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Agricultural Transformation in Ethiopia

“Agricultural Transformation in Ethiopia: State Policy and Smallholder Farming” (2018) edited by Atakilte Beyene is an excellent book on diverse components of the agricultural sector. Given the importance of agriculture in Ethiopia, this is an important addition as there are few books that cover the sector comprehensively (several are available that cover specific components). The introduction by Atakilte […]

Thought Provokers

Why Civil Resistance Works

Over the last year I have posted about a number of books related to civil resistance. In reading that literature, one of the works that gets frequently referred to is “Why Civil Resistance Works – The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict” by Chenoweth and Stephan (2011). Given that the field of study is a relatively […]

Thought Provokers

Can We Know Better? Reflections for Development

Cochrane, L. (2019) Review: Can We Know Better? Reflections for Development. Progress in Development Studies 19: 84-86. Starting in the 1980s, there have been regular publications of books that invite critical self-reflection in development study and practice: Rural Development: Putting the Last First (1983), Challenging the Professions (1993), Whose Reality Counts? (1997), Participatory Workshops (2002), […]

Thought Provokers

Human Rights and the Food Sovereignty Movement

Priscilla Claeys’s “Human Rights and the Food Sovereignty Movement: Reclaiming Control” (2015) had some high level support and praise (Jun Borras, Olivier De Schutter, etc). The beginning of the abstract reads: “Our global food system is undergoing rapid change. Since the global food crisis of 2007-2008, a range of new issues have come to public […]

Thought Provokers

Education, Politics and Social Change in Ethiopia

In looking for research that explores the challenges of ethnic federalism and language in Ethiopia, I came across the book “Education, Politics and Social Change in Ethiopia” (2010), edited by Paulos Milkias (Concordia University) and Messay Kebede (University of Dayton). All of the contributing authors are based outside of Ethiopia, which is not necessarily negative, […]

Thought Provokers

Kofi Annan – Interventions

Kofi Annan (1938-2018) was the Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006, a turbulent time to say the least. He penned “Interventions: A Life in War and Peace” (2012) with Nader Mousavizadeh to provide some of the high, lows, challenges and successes of his time leading the UN. The book is a recounting […]

Thought Provokers

Who Really Feeds the World

Vandava Shiva was one of the earliest challengers to corporate control of food and the food system. In her most recent book, “Who Really Feeds the World: The Failures of Agribusiness and the Promise of Agroecology” (2016), Shiva continues the activism. While I am generally in agreement with the positions advocated in the book, it […]

Thought Provokers

The History of Famine and Epidemics in Ethiopia

Richard Pankhurst made significant contributions to the study of history in Ethiopia (see a listing of some of his works here). In this book, “The History of Famine and Epidemics in Ethiopia Prior to the Twentieth Century” (1985), published by the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, Richard Pankhurst brings together a series of others works: The […]

Thought Provokers

America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes

Anand Gopal was a Pulitzer finalist and won the Ridenhour Prize for “No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes” (2014). For those interested in Afghanistan, I’ve covered books by Ahmed Rashid, William Dalrymple and Stephen Saideman elsewhere. Gopal’s book is an excellent read and presents the counter-narrative […]

Thought Provokers

Empire (Hardt & Negri)

“Empire” (2000) by Hardt and Negri lines many shelves and sits on many recommended reading lists on the Left. I have written up a summary of their 2004 book, for anyone interested – that book is also easier reading for those not interested or well versed in Marxist literature / terminology. Empire presents a detailed […]

Thought Provokers