Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where the population is worse off today than it was 20 years ago. Thus, global interest has shifted away from Africa, and Africa is referred to as the 'marginalised continent'. But is this decline inevitable or is it reversible? The papers in this book attempt to answer this question, examining policies to avoid marginalisation and ensure that Southern Africa, the most promising part of the continent, and South Africa, its engine of economic growth, become competitive in the new world trade order.

Analyzes the political process in South Africa and the SADCC countries. The importance of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary politics in South Africa is discussed and political change in that country is related to the regional and international environments.