Africa since 1940: The Past of the Present

Frederick Cooper’s latest book on the history of decolonization and independence in Africa helps students understand the historical process from which Africa’s current position in the world has emerged. Bridging the divide between colonial and post-colonial history, it shows what political independence did and did not signify and how men and women, peasants and workers, religious leaders and local leaders sought to refashion the way they lived, worked, and interacted with each other.