The Rift
By Alex Perry
A New Africa Breaks Free. Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
Summary of The Rift book by Alex Perry
Africa’s story of defiance against Western clichés, tracing the journey of countries like Rwanda from devastation to explosive economic growth, and showing how many African nations are currently transforming into rising economic stars.
Chapters in The Rift book summary
What do you get from this book? How a new Africa is breaking its reliance on a domineering West through innovation
The 2011 Somalian famine demonstrates the dangers of African reliance on Western aid
Africa’s rich history of advanced civilizations was ignored by colonialists, but suggests it can be fully independent again
South Sudan’s civil war demonstrates the failure of UN peacekeepers on the ground
The international condemnation of Joseph Kony failed to fix Uganda’s underlying problems, and exposed the narcissism of some activists
Rwanda shows how a country under the right leadership can survive horror to be revitalized
Robert Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe has been disastrous, a result of his failure to move on from a freedom-fighting mindset
South Africa has fallen short of the state Mandela hoped to create, with crime and corruption at catastrophic levels
Islamism is closely tied to liberation movements in Africa, where Christianity and Islam have clashed throughout history
Mali and Guinea-Bissau have been corrupted by the drug trade, opening the door to Islamist uprisings
Nigeria’s decline into corruption and inequality is being reversed by innovative local leaders
Leaps in mobile technology and solar power are revolutionizing life in Africa’s biggest cities and smallest villages
African innovation and Chinese investment are breaking the cycle of dependence on the West
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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The Rift — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read The Rift book
- Politics buffs
- those curious about Africa
- nonprofit volunteers
About the author of The Rift
Alex Perry
Alex Perry is a multi-award-winning journalist who has worked across the world for over twenty years. His articles have appeared in a variety of national newspapers and magazines, including TIME, The Guardian and more. His previous books include The Good Mothers and Falling Off the Edge.
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