Edited by Nic Cheeseman, Director of the African Studies Centre at Oxford University, the four volumes that make up this collection are structured around the biggest questions that have dominated African Studies - What was the legacy of colonial rule, and has Africa broken free of its international dependency?; How are ethnic identities formed, and what impact have they had?; Why is Africa so poor? What are the main barriers to development?; Is democracy feasible in Africa, and, if so, how can it be designed to promote political stability?