Bibliography of Gambian Related Publications

Government and politics

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Title: Government Policy Or Household Choice: What Drives Housing Outcomes In The Gambia.
Date: 1995
Source: Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, 1995. 304 p.; Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-03, Section: A, page: 1348. Chair: DAVID S. DOWALL.
Author(s): COLE, RODDIE LLOYD.
Abstract: Numerous undeveloped residential plots and incomplete housing projects in Greater Banjul testify to significant difficulties faced by households endeavoring to create dwelling units. These are prevalent in high income areas and on government-allocated residential subdivisions where, typically, the state has subsidized critical inputs. If land and other housing "bottlenecks" are provided at minimal cost, why does housing delivery remain so low? This research attempts to identify which factors determine successful delivery of housing. It focuses on cases where households desirous of home-ownership are compelled to develop their own, and assesses how policies facilitate or impede plot development. The principal thesis is that housing outcomes reflect patterns of consumption which are, in turn, driven by an "enterprise imperative" for lower class households and a "prestige imperative" for upper class households. To test this hypothesis, I use demographic variables to classify households into socioeconomic categories and policy variables to construct formal and non formal housing delivery systems. There is evidence of strong correlation between households of high socioeconomic status and formal delivery systems that offer subsidized inputs to housing. Lower class households lack access to the formal sector, and are compelled to operate in nonformal or customary systems with minimal government assistance. The configuration of political authority, the "status quo," skews subsidies to those households that are most effective at articulating demand on housing institutions, and this results in inequitable outcomes. That finding is not surprising. It is not even new. The more important conclusion is that the outcomes are also inefficient and constitute a barrier to the government's own policy goals of expanding the supply of urban housing. Driven by the "enterprise" goals, lower status households produce more residential, commercial, and other structures per plot, and are--in fact--a more effective conduit through which to achieve desired outcomes. Upper class households, despite government assistance, take longer periods to complete construction and produce less housing. There are also equity implications. The excluded households have less education and have lower incomes. They are more "needy" and thus put forth a strong case for policy assistance. To the extent possible, government should target subsidies at low income households for reasons of efficiency and equity. If targeting is not feasible, policy action should produce outputs that are collectively rather than privately consumed. Household choices are as important as more traditional policy variables that, at best, are intervening mechanisms. However, while the impact of prices is thoroughly researched and well understood, the "household" factor is neglected in housing research.
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Title: Projectizing the Governance Approach to Civil Service Reform An Environmental Assessment for Preparing a Sectoral Adjustment Loan in the Gambia
Date: 1994
Source: Series: World Discussion Papers Africa Technical Department 252; ISBN: 0821329669 Trade Cloth USD 8.95 R
Author(s): Pinto, Rogerio F.; Mrope, Angelous J. Other
Abstract:
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Title: Militarization Among The Ex-British Colonies Of West Africa (Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone).
Date: 1993
Source: Thesis (PH.D.)--NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, 1993. 443 p.; Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-07, Section: A, page: 2727.
Author(s): AGAMBILA, GHEYSIKA A.
Abstract: This study examined factors and processes contributing to militarization in The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone from the colonial period to 1985. It drew from open systems organizational change theory and the literature on the military to study the development of a national institution in West Africa. Militarization was investigated as a dimension of power shifts and bureaucratic growth. Military rule, armed force size and military expenditures were used as indicators of militarization. Historical methods and regression analyses were used to evaluate a proposed model of militarization with Gross Domestic Product (GDP), foreign exchange, exports, ethnic composition, national security concerns, temporal factors, leadership ideology, unemployment and urbanization as independent variables. This model was investigated using a computerized data base. Military rule was related to recruiting policy, professionalization and limited mobility for officers. Civil-military relations, limited national integration and political consensus, population growth, concentration of military and communication facilities in cities also affected military rule. Statistically, military rule had no significant association with the independent variables. Armed force size was not determined in all countries by the same independent variables. In every country, GDP had statistically significant association with armed force size. In the aggregate, GDP, export earnings and military expenditures had positive and statistically significant association with armed force size. National security concerns, temporal factors, and military rule had no statistically significant relationships with armed force size. Military expenditures varied among countries. In the aggregate, military expenditures were positively influenced by armed force size, military rule and export earnings, but negatively related to GDP and unemployment. Revised models of militarization were constructed based on these findings, and also questions for future research such as is militarization affected by other independent variables; how do specific national histories affect militarization; and what factors are related to civilianization?.
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Title: Profile on The Gambia : Shining Light in African Social Security.
Date: 1992
Source: Benefits & Compensation International; May 1992, v21n9, p. 10 (1 pages)
Author(s): Cooke, Alan.
Abstract: The social security system in Gambia strives to provide reasonable retirement benefits in as efficient a manner as possible. The government created the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) to take responsibility for the overall effective management of the social security programs. The SSHFC is responsible for the Federated Pension Scheme, which primarily covers public sector employees, and the National Provident Fund, which covers all employers registered under the Business Registration Act. The Federated Pension Scheme provides a pension at the age of 55 of 2% of final earnings for each year of membership. Employers bear 100% of the cost. The National Provident Fund requires contributions of 10% and 5% of salary, respectively, from participating employers and employees. These contributions are credited with the investment return, net of administrative expenses, actually earned on the invested funds. The resulting benefit is paid in lump-sum form at the retirement age of 55.
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Title: The invisible opposition. (opposition parties in Gambia)
Date: 1991
Source: Africa Report; March-April 1991, v36, n2, p45(2)
Author(s): Costa, Peter da
Abstract:
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Title: Democracy in Black Africa: Survival and Revival
Date: 1990
Source: Paragon House, New York, NY
Author(s): Wiseman, John A.
Abstract:
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Title: Gambia Weathers Senegal Split
Date: 1990
Source: Christian Science Monitor, Vol. 82, No. 163 (July 19, 1990), 8
Author(s): Miller, Susan Katz
Abstract:
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Title: Seven-year itch. (Senegambia) (International)
Date: 1989
Source: The Economist; August 26 1989, v312, n7617, p32(1)
Author(s):
Abstract:
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Title: Senegambia: The Limits of Pan-Africanism
Date: 1988
Source: Christian Science Monitor, Vol. 80, No. 112 (May 5, 1988), 7
Author(s): Philips, Michael
Abstract:
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Title: The Gambia: It Exists in Shadow of Senegal
Date: 1988
Source: Washington Times (March 30, 1988)
Author(s): Ross, Oakland
Abstract:
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Title: Senegambia: A Now and Future Nation
Date: 1985
Source: National Geographic, Vol. 168 (August 1985), 224-251
Author(s): Kirtley, Michael and Aubine
Abstract:
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Title: Peasant Autonomy And Irrigation: Innovation In The Senegal River Basin.
Date: 1984
Source: Thesis (PH.D.)--NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, 1984. 334 p.; Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-07, Section: A, page: 2244.
Author(s): MILLER, RICHARD PAUL.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between peasant autonomy and irrigation in the Senegal River Basin of West Africa. This micro-level irrigation impact study reviews the contents of the technical package and the impact it has on the individual peasant, local village organization, regional organizations, and the national and international agencies involved in the rural development process. The study focuses on: (1) the tension between local autonomy and state intervention; (2) the nature of leadership, participation and organizational response through emerging water user's associations; and (3) the local, regional, national, and international linkages. The field work that provides the basis for this study was conducted primarily in Senegal between February, 1980, and October, 1981; brief side trips were made to Mali, Mauritania, and The Gambia. The author was employed by the USAID/OMVS regional office, and his activities were quite varied, ranging from primary field research--both qualitative and quantitative--in the riverine villages to policy planning sessions with host government representatives in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Research activities included designing and implementing four independent (but related) surveys, one throughout the River Basin with three others in the Soninke zone of Bakel (Senegal). The study demonstrates that the peasant remains an active participant in the development process, despite the externally imposed bureaucratic intervention and technological change. In certain instances, not only do the peasants take their destiny into their own hands, but mobilize certain external resources toward those ends. In the Senegal River Basin, there is also a strong relationship between irrigation and past and present migration experiences, including current emigrants working in France and past emigrants now assuming irrigation leadership positions. Finally, although water user's associations are built on a participatory model, they are highly centralized at the local level with unequal access to and control over irrigation at the local level. In part, it is a study of coalition and consensus among peasant organizations and between the peasants and the state bureaucracies.
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Title: The Interaction Of Western And African Traditional Systems Of Justice: The Problem Of Integration. (A Case Study Of The Gambia).
Date: 1982
Source: Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 1982. 316 p.; Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-07, Section: A, page: 2457.
Author(s): DARBOE, MOMODOU NUMUKUNDA.
Abstract: Since the expansion of Islam around the 11th Century and the 19th Century infiltration of European imperialism in West Africa, the societies in that part of the world have been impelled to accomodate two other cultural orders, in addition to their own: Islamic and Western. With specific reference to legal systems, the situation has given rise to a triangular interaction of African traditional, Islamic and Western judicial ideas, concepts and principles. Although the three judicial systems occasionally accommodate each other, inevitably the interaction is frequently plagued with conflict. In addition to areas of judicial philosophy and procedure, the conflict often stems from differences in the definitions of and concepts of crime and criminal situations. Thus, the dynamics of legal development and criminological research are impeded. This dissertation aims at revealing the details of the contradictions and the conflicts among the principles, concepts and organizations of the various legal systems. It is hoped that this analysis will facilitate the formulation of strategies to which individuals and groups may resort to minimize discordances, conflicts of interest, incompatibilities, etc. By means of literature search and field work, the methodology involved the examination of the Gambian society at two levels: the superficial level, represented by the "official" structures; and the deeper level where the fundamental relationships and practices are revealed. The research was conducted, therefore, from the retrospective and the present points of reference; that is, an examination of the society both before and after the advent of Western and Islamic judicial systems. In addition, in order to isolate the general areas of conflict and accommodation, the general principles and concepts of the various legal orders are compared. As a result of this examination, it has been concluded that a uniform, consistent and more harmonious legal system may be achieved with the proper adaptation of Islamic and Western judicial elements to local conditions. This conclusion, however, does not suggest a return to the archaic forms of the indigenous judicial system which would be irrelevant within the contemporary situation. The dissertation concludes with some recommendations towards a policy of legal reform.
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Title: The 1996/1997 Presidential and National Assembly Elections in The Gambia
Date: December, 1997
Source: Electoral Studies, Vol. 16, No. 4.
Author(s): Abdoulaye Saine
Abstract:
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Title: The Military’s Managed Transition to “Civilian Rule” in The Gambia
Date: Winter 1998
Source: Journal of Political and Military Sociology, Vol. 26, No.2
Author(s): Abdoulaye Saine
Abstract:
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Title: The Soldier-Turned-Presidential Candidate
Date: 2000
Source: Journal of Political and Military Sociology, Vol. 28
Author(s): Abdoulaye Saine
Abstract:
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Title: The Coup d’etat in The Gambia, 1994: The End of The First Republic
Date:
1996
Source: Armed Forces and Society, Vol. 23
Author(s): Abdoulaye Saine
Abstract:
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Title: Politics And The Functional Strategy To International Integration: Gambia In Senegambian Integration, 1958-1974.
Date: 1979
Source: Thesis (PH.D.)--YALE UNIVERSITY, 1979. 515 p.; Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 40-06, Section: A, page: 3523.
Author(s): SENGHOR, JEGGAN COLLEY.
Abstract:
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Title: Party Politics In The Gambia.
Date: 1978
Source: Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, 1978. 310 p.; Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 39-01, Section: A, page: 0443.
Author(s): FLETCHER, ANDRIA JANE.
Abstract:
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Title: Mandinka Mansaya: The Role Of The Mandinka In The Political System Of The Gambia .
Date: 1968
Source: Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, 1968. 466 p.; Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 30-02, Section: B, page: 0478.
Author(s): WEIL, PETER MAURICE.
Abstract:
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Title: The Military and 'Democratisation' in The Gambia: 1994-2003
Date: 2006
Source: 345 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); contains, tables, black and white & color images; catalogue #06-1860; ISBN 1-4251-0103-8
Author(s): Dr. Ebrima Ceesay
Abstract: This book provides an account of significant political developments in a small West African country, The Gambia, about which such information is not readily available. It is a robustly written account of the very fluid politics of The Gambia over the last ten years since the coup that ousted President Dawda Jawara. The author is able to bring an enviable amount of first-hand understanding to the case at hand. He was a newspaper editor in The Gambia and also a correspondent there for the BBC. The book addresses a subject of much current interest in the wider development and policy-related literatures and much of the information makes an original contribution to knowledge in the area of democracy and military rule in The Gambia. The study thus constitutes an original contribution to the growing scholarship on The Gambia. It also makes a contribution to the existing literature on democratisation and the military in West Africa.

The book undertakes the much needed research into recent political developments in The Gambia, and sets this in the wider context of West African politics. It provides an in-depth study of events in The Gambia prior to and post 1994 and examines The Gambian case in a theoretical context pertaining to Africa in general, and the West African sub-region in particular.

The fundamental concern of this book is to determine whether it is possible for a nation to democratise under 'military' rule. Following the 1994 coup d'etat, The Gambia had military rule until 1997. After two Presidential elections, it remained under 'quasi-military' rule, the military having merely been thinly disguised in civilian clothes. The central argument of this book is that in the case of The Gambia, it has not been possible to democratise under either 'military' or 'quasi-military' rule. The country is far from being democratic and the democratisation process has barely begun. The Gambia operates under an authoritarian regime with strong military overtones.

The 1994 coup d'etat in The Gambia took place at a time when most of Africa was moving towards democratisation. At the same time, The Gambia moved away from democratisation and into military dictatorship. This Gambian 'exceptionalism' in recent regional, continental and global political development is explained and analysed in the book. The study presents a conceptual and empirical analysis of the recent 'democratisation' processes under the military and military-turned civilian regimes in The Gambia. It uses conceptual or analytical insights, drawn from the general literature on military regimes in Africa, to inform understanding of the case study.

The book raises a number of very pertinent questions concerning the place of the military in a modern African polity, and the varied contexts and contested nature of this role. The book sets out to assess the military regime that seized power in The Gambia in July 1994, and which remains in power to the present day - having formally converted itself into an "elected" civilian regime through managed elections from which the military leader emerged victorious. It is broadly concerned with four themes: a) pre-independent politics in The Gambia, the Jawara years and the causes of his overthrow; b) the coup d'etat that brought the military regime to power on 22 July 1994; c) the subsequent conduct of the military regime, with particular concern for its attempt to legitimise itself through elections; and d) the question of whether The Gambia can be regarded as a democracy, to which the author has returned a decided negative.

Four main questions are posed. What were the causes of the military coup in The Gambia? What were the various phases of military rule? How has the military performed in office? Has The Gambia returned to a functioning democratic state following the 1996 and 2001 elections? The findings indicate that the military intervention was prompted by a combination of political, economic and social problems in the country. The 1994 coup d'etat in The Gambia is best seen as the outcome of two main variables: the societal/economic/political factors which made military intervention a possibility, set against the motivations of junior officers of the Gambia National Army to intervene in the government of The Gambia because of their own dissatisfactions and possible personal aspirations. Direct military rule was in two phases and the military's leadership performance was poor in respect of human and civil rights in both phases, although there were some modest gains in socio-economic terms. Despite the holding of elections, The Gambia remains undemocratic.

The study is based on newspaper reports, interviews and the author's own experiences as a journalist in The Gambia until his departure from the country in 1996, together with published sources. The empirical element in the book is accompanied by a survey of literature in the field, notably relating to military regimes in general, and especially in Africa. The treatment of empirical developments and academic sources in the book is both descriptive and conceptual.

The ten chapters (including a general conclusion) which make up the book are logically structured; general aims and objectives, which are clearly identified in the introductory chapter, are pursued in a sustained way in the subsequent discussion. Early presentations of approach, objectives and strategy combine with overviews of pre-1994 politics and economics in the opening two chapters. Along with the summary of the circumstances surrounding the military's intervention in politics in 1994 (Chapter 3), these serve as a prelude to the detailed evaluation of the military's performance in government; and the circumstances, processes and consequences of the army's transformation into a "democratic" civilian (in reality a "quasi-military") regime, which constitutes the middle third, and core, of the book.

The final third of the book focuses on the fortunes of both democracy and politics under a quasi-military regime, and tries to draw lessons from this experience for a serious consideration of the role of the military in democratic politics. The penultimate chapter offers recommendations for deterring future coups in The Gambia and elsewhere in Africa, while a general conclusion present a cogent summary of the principal findings and conclusions.

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Title: Mandela's Other Children: The Diary of an African Journalist
Date: 2007
Source: Paperback (6x9): 108 Pgs., ISBN13: 978-1-60047-098-1 & ISBN10: 1-60047-098-X
Author(s): Baba G. Jallow
Abstract:  In Mandela's Other Children, Baba Galleh Jallow invokes the intriguing concept of a Pan-African struggle against oppression. As he narrates his personal ordeals as a journalist working in an oppressive "shadow state" since 1994, Baba skillfully comments on some complex issues related to the African condition that are not readily obvious to the non-African observer. The pages of this book are littered with chilling accounts of how "orders from above" lead to arbitrary arrests and detentions, nocturnal arson attacks on media houses, the promulgation of unjust laws, the murder of prominent citizens, the Soweto-like massacre of school children holding a peaceful demonstration, and the forcible closure of radio stations and newspapers critical of the government. But Mandela's Other Children is also a story of heroic resistance, stubborn defiance, and a steely determination to assert and preserve endangered sovereignties by threatened social entities. This is a truly worthy addition to the growing corpus of works on the postcolony. Students of comparative journalism will also find much that is useful in these charged pages.

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Title: The Anatomy of Powercracy And Other Essays
Date: 2006
Source: ISBN 1-933265-75-2
Author(s): Baba G. Jallow
Abstract:  The Anatomy of Powercracy gives an unusually clear and interesting insight into the inner workings of dictatorial African political systems and the minds of the dictators themselves, whom Baba describes as "elephants on mosquito legs." Written in Baba's trademark flowing prose with a touch of humor nicely blended in with the serious nature of his subject, The Anatomy of Powercracy And Other Essays provides a wide range of perspectives on contemporary African politics, Classical and Modern western political theory, American Civil Rights issues and the psychology of Affirmative Action in America's education system. This small volume will prove an invaluable resource to both undergraduate and Masters level students in the liberal arts and social sciences, as well as to general readers interested in widening their knowledge in the above areas. The Anatomy of Powercracy And Other Essays is Baba's third book. His first and second books, Dying for My Daughter and Angry Laughter, also published by Wasteland Press, deal with FGM and African politics respectively.

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Title: Angry Laughter: A biting satire on an inept African civilian government and its brutal military successor
Date: 2004
Source: ISBN 1-932852-09-3
Author(s): Baba G. Jallow
Abstract:  Written in the Orwellian tradition of Animal Farm, Angry Laughter is one of the most biting political satires to come out of Africa. In this tale of dark political intrigue and betrayal, Baba Jallow ridicules the absurd antics of an inept and corrupt civilian government and its removal and replacement by a group of semi-illiterate military saviors', who turn out to be far more absurd, corrupt and brutal than their predecessors. While exceedingly funny and often lighthearted, Angry Laughter awakens us to the cruel excesses of Africa's power-crazed despots, the sorry plight of her oppressed peoples, the very real dangers of civil war and the continent's nauseating politics of brutality. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the nature and dynamics of contemporary African politics and why, in particular, the continent is riddled with bloody civil wars.
 


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Title: A Political History of The Gambia, 1816-1994
Date: 2006
Source: 560 pages; 10 digit ISBN: 1580462308, 13 digit ISBN: 9781580462303, Published by Boydell & Brewer for Rochester
University Press.
Author(s): Arnold Hughes & David Perfect
Abstract: A Political History of The Gambia: 1816-1994 is the first complete account of the political history of the former British West African dependency to be written. It makes use of much hitherto unconsulted or unavailable British and Gambian official and private documentary sources, as well as interviews with many Gambian politicians and former British colonial officials.
The first part of the book charts the origins and characteristics of modern politics in colonial Bathurst (Banjul) and its expansion into the Gambian interior (Protectorate) in the two decades after World War II. By independence in 1965, older urban-based parties in the capital had been defeated by a new, rural-based political organisation, the People's Progressive Party (PPP).
The second part of the book analyzes the means by which the PPP, under President Sir Dawda Jawara, succeeded in defeating both existing and new rival political parties and an attempted coup in 1981. The book closes with an explanation of the demise of the PPP at the hands of an army coup in 1994.
The book not only establishes those distinctive aspects of Gambian political history, but also relates these to the wider regional and African context, during the colonial and independence periods.

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Title: Coup d'etat by the Gambia National Army
Date: Jun 15, 2007
Source: 292 pages; ISBN13: 978-1-4257-6111-0 (Trade Paperback), ISBN: 1-4257-6111-9 (Trade Paperback), ISBN13: 978-1-4257-6113-4 (Hardback), ISBN: 1-4257-6113-5 (Hardback)
Author(s): Lt. Col. Samsudeen Sarr
Abstract: A compelling story filled with lessons about Gambian history with special focus on the genesis of the Gambian Military
Coup de tat by the Gambia National Army, July 22nd 1994 is the author’s autobiography chronicling the events of the title and its impact in his life. For complexity, Lt. Col. Sarr alternates his story in the early chapters between scenes in the Gambia and his struggles to obtain political asylum in the United States of America. He also shares recollections from his childhood to educate his readers about certain social and spiritual beliefs and traditions in the Gambia. After the first few chapters, which set up the coup and established his thoughts about it, he further provides a detailed history of his personal life up to the time of his enlistment in the Gambia National Army. There he discusses his first days in the USA in the early 80’s sequentially focusing on life in the Gambia before, during and after the coup. This dramatic and compelling narrative sheds light on African politics and history, highlighting the failure of democracy in Africa due to abusive, limitless powers of political leaders. Its vivid historical details easily bring to life the culture and norms of Gambia.

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Title: 21st Century Complete Guide to Gambia (The Gambia) - Encyclopedic Coverage, Country Profile, History
Date: 2007
Source: CIA Factbook (Two CD-ROM Set)
Author(s): U.S. Government
Abstract: Completely updated and revised for this new edition, our unique electronic book on two CD-ROMs has an amazing collection of the finest federal documents and resources about Gambia, providing encyclopedic coverage of all aspects of the country. This disc set provides a truly fantastic reference source, with over one hundred thousand pages reproduced in Adobe Acrobat format! There is complete coverage of newsworthy material about Gambia, including doing business, agriculture, USAID (thousands of pages of reports), pneumococcal vaccine trial, Peace Corps, energy in Africa, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), and more. This incredible and comprehensive series on the countries of the world contains material from the State Department, Department of Defense, White House, and cabinet agencies including Agriculture, Energy, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. There is complete information about geography, people, government, the economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues. In addition to the nation-specific material, as a bonus we have included reports about every country on the globe, with 271 nations, dependent areas, and other entities identified by the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA World Factbook is considered an invaluable "world encyclopedia" reference book. This incredible two CD-ROM set is packed with over 100,000 pages reproduced using Adobe Acrobat PDF software - allowing direct viewing on Windows and Macintosh systems. The Acrobat cataloging technology adds enormous value and uncommon functionality to this impressive collection of government documents and material. Our news and educational discs are privately compiled collections of official public domain U.S. government files and documents - they are not produced by the federal government. They are designed to provide a convenient user-friendly reference work, utilizing the benefits of the Adobe Acrobat format to uniformly present thousand.

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Title: First Person Dancing Lessons From God
Date: August 2007
Source: Index on Censorship, vol 36, No. 3, 207-214, 2007
Author(s): Dawn Starin
Abstract: This is an essay recounting the lack of press freedom, the murder and disappearances of various media people and the use of language in The Gambia

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Title: Paradox of Third-wave Democratization in Africa: The Gambia Under the Afprc-aprc Rule, 1994-2008 (Hardcover)
Date: January 2009
Author(s): Dr. Abdoulaye Saine - Abdoulaye Saine is associate professor of political science at Miami University of Ohio and co-author of Not Yet Democracy: West Africa's Slow Farewell to Authoritarianism.
Abstract: In this book, Abdoulaye Saine provides a superb account of the domestic political conditions that explain the persistence of poverty and economic crisis in Africa. With a focus on The Gambia under Yahya Jammeh (1994-2008), and drawing from other African cases in a comparative perspective, the author skillfully traces the causes of development crisis in The Gambia to poor governance, authoritarianism, and human rights violations. Although the analysis is focused on The Gambia, the findings reflect the African situation by drawing on relevant examples from other states. This is a must-read book for scholars, activists, and policy makers interested in the comparative political economy of development - Sakah Saidu Mahmud, Transylvania University

This book is about the dilemma(s) of "third-wave" "democratization" in Africa. It teases out the general proposition that while the market is a necessary ingredient for development, it is not by itself a sufficient condition for prosperity - the state's role, policy framework, and leadership also matter. Using a counter-example, the book contends that in a poor governance environment, gross human rights violations result in poor economic performance and failure by repressive governments to provide basic needs for the poor in society. While this study is concerned primarily with The Gambia, it nonetheless has a lot to say about Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and other countries in the continent caught in the paralysis of externally driven political and economic transitions and globalization. Locating countries undergoing liberalization and democratization within the global economy - as well as their peripheral status within it - is important, as! patterns of contemporary globalization are highly asymmetrical and often associated with a democratic deficit. Consequently, some groups, classes, and states enjoy numerous political and economic freedoms foreign to the vast majority of humanity, which lives in oppressive living conditions. The Paradox of Third-Wave Democratization in Africa is also a comprehensive account of the historical, political, and economic events since the onset of military and quasi-military rule in this West African mini-state of 1.5 million, once the longest surviving functioning democracy in Africa. Predictably, the book is about former President Dawda Jawara as much as it is about soldier-turned-president Yahya Jammeh, who in the last fourteen years has dominated the country's political and economic landscape. In the end, the book posits that various attempts to improve living standards of ordinary Gambians and Africans by client regimes using foisted conventional market-drive! n economic models alone are not likely to succeed until they are predi cated on a basic-needs economic strategy and organically spawned political structures. Finally, the book highlights transnational political and economic ties Diaspora Gambians have established with The Gambia and their attempts to both shape and nudge politics in the second republic in a more democratic direction.

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Title: Kairaba
Date: 2009
Source: The autobiography of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. 548 p., ISBN-10: 095639681X, ISBN-13: 978-0956396815
Author(s): DAlhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara (December 31, 2009)
Abstract: The book entitled ‘Kairaba’ celebrates the life and times of the President of the first Republic. The book contains 33 chapters, in a sequential order, Sir Dawda narrates his story, from birth in 1924 in Barajally Village, his move to the city to acquire formal education, in Ghana where he studied veterinary science, and to Edinburgh, Scotland where he bagged a "Doctorate" in Veterinary science. Upon his return he served as a veterinary doctor under the colonial administration, before entering into politics. Under the banner of PPP, the party he led, he served as Education minister, Prime Minister and President in 1965, and led the country for 30 years before he was overthrown in 1994. The Book Kairaba is now available via domtom publishing's website at: http://www.domtom.co.uk/ and Timbooktoo Bookshop in Bakau.

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