Africa Books
** Please note: books are not directly available from Africa Renewal,
they must be obtained directly from the publishers **
they must be obtained directly from the publishers **
Book review
United Nations at a Glance
by the Department of Public Information of the United Nations
United Nations, New York, NY, USA, 2013; 217 pp; pb $20
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1675","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"285","style":"width: 190px; height: 285px; float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"190"}}]]Ever wanted to get a quick snapshot of what the United Nations is all about, from both a historical and current perspective? A new guide, United Nations at a Glance, might just be what you have been waiting for. The book delves into the work of the global body on issues ranging from international peace and security, to economic and social development, to human rights and humanitarian work. It uses examples extracted from real life situations and events in which the UN was either directly involved or played a vital role.
Illustrated and enhanced with compelling stories from around the world, this guide contains historical information on how and why the UN came into existence; how it evolved from an ancient philosophical idea and a nascent war time alliance into the largest grouping of nations the world has ever known, and explains why it has become so essential to the everyday lives and livelihoods of millions around the world.
In straightforward language, United Nations at a Glance explains what the UN does, how and where it does it and with what financial and material means, who the actors are, when and where historical milestones occurred, and the objectives that will continue to warrant UN support in the years to come.
The guide is primarily intended to serve as an educational resource. It contains up-to-date and factual information about the principal organs of the UN as well as its specialized agencies, funds, programmes, institutes and other entities. It illustrates how the global body responds to the major contemporary challenges posed by the global financial crisis, food insecurity, terrorism, climate change, natural disasters, intolerance, poverty, and epidemics, by promoting the universality of human rights, peace and security for all, sustainable development, respect for the rule of law, and education for all.
United Nations at a Glance also contains rich statistics, questions and answers, quick references to online resources, information about UN members and international observances, as well as its network of information centres.
For anyone who wants to know more about the world’s foremost intergovernmental organization, United Nations at a Glance is certainly the right place to start. It complements other UN flagship publications such the Yearbook of the United Nations and Basic Facts about the United Nations.
African Theatre 9: Histories 1850-1950, eds. Martin Banham, James Gibbs and Femi Osofisan (James Currey, Oxford, UK, 2010; 199 pp; pb $29.95)
Art and Trauma in Africa: Representations of Reconciliation in Music, Visual Arts, Literature and Film (International Library of Cultural Studies) by Lizelle Bisschoff and Stefanie Van de Peer (I. B. Tauris, London, UK, 2013; 264 pp; hb £59.50)
The Challenges of Administrative Political and Developmental Renewal in Africa: Emerging Issues by John W. Forje (Nova Science Publishers, New York, New York, USA, 2009; 216 pp; hb $69; pb $43)
Challenges of African Transformation, eds. Angathevar Baskaran, Mammo Muchie (Africa Institute of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, 2013; 232 pp; £22.95)
China and Angola A Marriage of Convenience? eds. Marcus Power, Ana Alves (Fahamu Books, Oxford, UK, 2013; 192 pp; pb £16.95)
Colonial Meltdown: Northern Nigeria in the Great Depression by Moses E. Ochon (Ohio University Press, OH, USA, 2012; 272 pp; pb $24.95)
Contemporary African Cultural Productions, ed. V.Y. Mudimbe (Codesria, Dakar, Senegal, 2013; 328 pp; pb £24.95)
Constructing African Art Histories for the Lagoons of Côte d’Ivoire by Monica Blackmun Visonà (Ashgate Publishing, London, UK, 2010; 216 pp; hb $109.95)
A Comprehensive Tax History of Nigeria, eds. Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria (Safari Books, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, 2012; 298 pp; pb £34.95)
Creating Systems of Innovation in Africa, eds. Angathevar Baskaran, Mammo Muchie (Africa Institute of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, 2013; 232 pp; £22.95)
The Design and Implementation of Business Process Reengineering in the Ethiopian Public Sector: An Assessment of Four Organizations by Atkilt Hagos and Tesfaye Debela (OSSREA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2011; 178 pp; pb £18.95)
The Dying Sahara US Imperialism and Terror in Africa by Jeremy Keenan (Pluto Press, London, UK, 2013; 352 pp; pb £17.50)
The Ewe People: A Study of the Ewe People in German Togo by Jakob Spieth (African Book Collective, London, UK, 2011; 980 pp; pb £59.95)
The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe by Peter Godwin (Little, Brown and Company, New York, New York, USA, 2011; 384 pp; hb $26.99)
The Global Hunger Crisis Tackling Food Insecurity in Developing Countries by Majda Bne Saad (Pluto Press, London, UK, 2013; 312 pp; pb £19.50)
The Hard Road to Reform: The Politics of Zimbabwe’s Global Political Agreement, ed. Brian Raftopoulos (Weaver Press, Harare, Zimbabwe, 2013; 282 pp; pb £20.95)
The Horn of Africa: Intra-State and Inter-State Conflicts and Security, ed. Redie Bereketeab (Pluto Press, London, UK, 2013; 272 pp; pb £21.99)
Implementing the Public Finance Management Act in South Africa by Russell Wildeman and Wellington Jogo (Idasa, Pretoria, South Africa, 2012; 58 pp; pb £15.95)
Mother Is Gold, Father Is Glass. Gender and Colonialism in a Yoruba Town by Lorelle D. Semley (Indiana University Press, Indiana, USA, 2010; 232 pp ; hb $70 pb $24.95)
Osogbo and the Art of Heritage: Monuments, Deities, and Money by Peter Probst (Indiana University Press, Indiana, USA, 2011; 216 pp; hb $70 pb $24.95)
Podcast
