Government and power in West Africa

Professor Jordan of the George Washington University, recently Head of the Department of Political Science at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, has written an admirable account of the evolution of the political systems of former British West African territories. The book is in four parts: part I deals with the fundamental issue of what is a nation-state, and the extent to which a nation-state, through government, reconciles liberty and authority; part II shows the influence of the pre-colonial and colonial traditions of government on post-independence political development; part III discusses some of the major challenges which governments face in attempting to form nations out of states; and part IV attempts to show that government is a manifestation of man's ability to create his own social environment.
The book is specifically designed for the African student and covers papers I and II on Government set by the West African Examinations Council for Advanced Level. It will also be valuable for students of comparative government and political philosophy. There is a comprehensive glossary of terms, questions and suggested activities, and also suggestions for further reading. The constitutional histories of the territories studied are outlined in an Appendix.