‘Banana Out of Republic?’: On the political economy of Africa’s transformation

Africa’s recent economic resurgence has raised questions of whether the process is sustainable and whether it will contribute to the continent’s transformation. Although global experiences indicate that socioeconomic development is seldom linear, with risks for reversal, the general view is that a number of African countries are on the verge of structural transformation. Governments have devised ‘visions’ to ensure that per capita incomes are raised to middle-income levels within a generation. They also aim to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality in incomes and opportunities. This article argues that with sustained good policies, outcomes in Africa are bound to be different from those of the past.