In a follow-up to his ground-breaking Africa Betrayed, George Ayittey takes up the plight of Africa at the end
of the twentieth century. Former UN Secretary General Boutros-Boutros Ghali once said that Africa was "in
danger of becoming the lost continent" and, on this point, Ayittey thoroughly agrees. As he begins to see
countries like Nigeria go over the edge of economic and social disaster, Ayittey uses his formidable powers of
analysis to look at the political economy of Africa, the incursion of foreign powers and the relationship of Africa
to the world market. He contrasts the indigenous systems of government that existed in Africa before the arrival
of Europeans with the colonial and post-colonial systems that were forced on the country and the effect these systems
have had on Africa's inability to move forward. Ayittey's view is dark and, as always, Ayittey's stinging conclusions
will infuriate some and invigorate others. Certain to create controversy, Africa in Chaos is a must-read for fans
of Ayittey's earlier work as well as anyone interested in the world economic scene today.