This bulletin has five articles. ‘Africa 1979: Myths, Miracles and Mirrors’ argues that domestic political developments in five separate African countries, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, Ghana and Nigeria have moved the political soul of Africa. ‘After Brehznev: Who and What’ discusses what is likely to happen when Brezhnez finally leaves due to his ill health. ‘The Arabs in Africa: Islamic Philanthropy or Petro-Colonialism’ looks at how African states addressed the massive problems of underdevelopment, both by cultivating closer associations with the world’s poor in their struggle to reconstitute the international economic order and by intensifying linkages with important global actors with a view to attracting their sympathies and their resources to the socio-economic problems facing the continent. ‘A Constellation of States: Regional Co-operation in Southern Africa’ sets out to examine the feasibility of the idea of a constellation of states as expounded by official spokesmen. Finally, an attempt is also made to assess the viability of the constellation idea measured against certain theoretical criteria applicable to regional politics. The bulletin then concludes with a book review on Namibia Old and New: Traditional and Modern Leaders in Ovamboland.
