Mzee Rukhsa: Safari ya Maisha Yangu
This is a review of the memoirs by the second President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Ali Hassan Mwinyi “Mzee Rukhsa: Safari ya Maisha Yangu” by Prof. Rwekaza Mukandala, Mwalimu Nyerere Chair in Pan-African Studies. Through his book, the former President wishes to offer Tanzanians a better understanding of their history as well as the […]
My Life, My Purpose: A Tanzanian President Remembers
This is a review of H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa’s autobiography, titled “My Life, My Purpose: A Tanzanian President Remembers”, by Prof. Rwekaza Mukandala, Mwalimu Nyerere Chair in Pan-African Studies. The memoirs, published through UONGOZI Institute’s leadership memoirs project, range from his childhood, time as president, and his continuing post-retirement involvement at the domestic and international stages. They […]
Orientalism (3rd Edition)
By Mélisande Denis Originally published in 1978, Orientalism, written by Edward W. Said, is still highly topical forty years later, and is especially worth reading to understand the issues of racism, of identity and of relations between different cultures. Indeed, it addresses crucial questions related to cultural representations: how do we perceive a culture that is […]
Sovereign Wealth Funds: States Buying the World
By Japhet Lutambi What are Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)? What are the sources, size and objectives of SWFs? Why have SWF had little media interest in their investments prior to 2007? Why are commentators concerned at the rise of SWFs? Lixia Loh addresses these questions in Sovereign Wealth Funds: States Buying the World. Loh aims to […]
Nationalism
By Gwamaka Kifukwe Originally published in 1917, Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Nationalism’ remains an insightful critique of the concept of the ‘nation’ and ‘nationalism’. The essay was published at a time of a growing Indian nationalist movement, heartened by the successes of Japan in re-defining its relationship with the Western world. Tagore’s text is a warning to […]
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty
By Mélisande Denis Why are some countries rich, and why are others poor? What can account for economic disparities across the world? Analyzing three millennia of world history and focusing on case studies from extremely diverse countries, Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson address these questions in their book Why Nations Fail, The Origins of Power, […]