Book Reviews
| Published date | 01 April 1960 |
| Date | 01 April 1960 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/j.1099-162X.1960.tb00171.x |
Book
Reviews
BRITISH
POLICY
IN
CHANGING
AFRICA,
by
Sir
Andrew
Cohen.
Routledge
&
Kegan
Paul;
I2S.
A
broad
statement
of
British colonial policy in Africa is
important
in
the
United
States
where
considerable
misunderstanding
of
modern
policy
and
British motives continue to exist. Collaboration
and
understanding
are
indis-
pensable factors between Britain
and
America
in
building
up
the
Free
World.
America is showing
an
increased interest in African affairs
and
a
greater
disposition
than
ever before to
render
technical
and
financial assistance in
the
development
of
Africa,
Sir
Andrew
Cohen
by this book makes a
valuable
contribution
to friendly
appreciation
in
America
of
British purpose in colonial
policy,
and
few persons
are
better
qualified for this task.
1
doubt
if
any
Minister
of
the
Crown
could wish for a
more
stimulating
and
resourceful adviser
than
Sir
Andrew. 1found
him
brilliant
and
able, a
man
of
wide comprehension
and
sympathy. His
work
in
the
Colonial Office on African
affairs revealed
remarkable
insight
and
prescience. 1 was excited, therefore,
when
1
got
his book
and
anticipated
adisplay
of
his
rare
qualities.
But
Iforgot
1 was
not
an
American
reader
and
felt a little disappointed. Sir
Andrew
was
not
engaged in
profound
discussion
of
the
complexities
of
policy,
but
giving
an
exposition
of
the
main
lines of colonial advance, to people unfamiliar
with
his subject, setting forth
the
ideas
and
principles in simple
and
easy terms.
The
lectures follow
the
well
worn
course
of
argument
respecting African
nation-
alism
and
African apprenticeship in government.
They
are
perhaps
a
bit
too
smooth
and
at
times suggest akind
of
apologia.
Sir
Andrew
surveys
past
policies
and
events
and
examines present needs
and
future
opportunities.
He
rapidly
sweeps across history to
the
amazingly
fast changes since
the
war.
The
two
dynamic
factors
are
nationalism
and
the
British official,
the
former compelling
our
attention
and
the
latter
becoming
the
spearhead
of
progress. District administration, he says, is
the
foundation
of
all
government
work in
the
African countries.
He
points
out
the
gaps in
their
economic
and
social
equipment
-such things as low
productivity,
unsuitable
land
tenure, lack
of
balance
in
the
economy, price instability, need for
training
and
leadership,
inadequate
commerce
and
industry, etc.
"I
believe," he adds,
"that
our
main
task will be to settle
with
the
Africans
the
right
way
to give
from outside
the
help
needed
to fill these
gaps."
He
has
much
to say
about
political
advance
and
the
tasks
of
government
in adjusting institutions from
tribal
life to
modern
demands.
And
in it all he emphasizes
the
place
of
the
British officer in
the
field. I should
have
been
interested in Sir
Andrew's
views
on
the
causes
of
the
Mau
Mau
revolt
and
the
imposition
of
federation in
Central
Africa
and
its consequences.
There
is also
another
query
to be
answered: is he satisfied
that
Western political
democracy
will
work
in Africa,
and
whether
in its
rapid
though
short
acceleration its roots
are
firmly
planted
and
its
inner
implications
understood?
The
book however is
admirable
for
understanding
what
Britain
is
now
doing.
A.
CREECH
JONES
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