Journal of Social Development in Africa (1988) 3,2, 81-104 
BOOK REVIEWS 
Women and the Law in Southern Africa, Alice Armstrong (ed) assisted by 
Welshman Ncube, Zimbabwe Publishing House, Harare, 1987 (281pp, 
price Z$5,00 plus tax).. 
Empowerment and the Law. Strategies of Third World Women, Margaret 
Schuler (ed), OEF International, Washington, 1986 (454pp, no price given). 
The history of women's struggle for emancipation dates back to the last 
century. In developed countries like Britain, for instance, women were for 
decades denied basic rights and it was not until die turn of die century that 
die status of women in that country rose significandy. British women did not 
get the vote until 1923 and, furthermore, it was not until the passing of the 
Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 that the last of the injustices were made 
illegal in mat country. In developing countries women have been struggling 
for a long time and, sadly, they are still struggling for their rights. In many of 
diese countries women have been treated like second-class citizens in spite 
of die enormous contributions they make to die socio-economic, political 
and cultural life of diese countries. Very often women are subjected to 
humiliation and sometimes to antiquated and degrading (mal)practices, 
including suttee in parts of Asia and circumcision in parts of Africa. 
It is heartening to "note that governments in many countries, particularly 
in the developing world, have joined the fight for women's emancipation, 
principally through the passing of legislation meant to give women dieir full 
rights. Besides governments, some men have expressed sympadiy widi the 
women's cause, although diey might come short of actually engaging in the 
actual fight. The saying diat 'you don't have to be in die army to fight die 
war' does ring true here, and hence die contribution by diese men (even if it 
is only moral support) should be most welcome to all concerned. In spite of 
diese efforts, however, discriminatory practices against women still persist 
die world over. 
It is in die light of rfiis background diat the two books Women and the 
Law in Southern Africa and Empowerment and the Law. Strategies of 
Third World Women are most heartily welcomed. Bodi publications are 
concerned widi women and die law and die observation of bodi is diat 
women die world over have received and continue-to receive a raw deal; 
dieir rights are constaridy being violated. While Empowerment and the 
Law casts a wide net and examines die situation of women in such diverse 
regions of die world as Asia, Africa and Latin America (ie die Third World), 
Women and the Law in Southern Africa restricts its analysis to the situation
X2 Book Rrvinos 
in the Southern African countries of Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, 
Zambia and Zimbabwe. Both texts are basically a collection of contributions 
from different people in different countries who have been directly involved 
in the struggle for women's rights. The authors appear quite committed to 
the struggle for women's emancipation and they strongly believe that 
women and men are entided to full equality both under the law and in 
practice. 
There is a striking concordance to some of the observations made in the 
two books. For instance, both texts seem to agree that the problems faced bv 
women everywhere are basically similar. They also both note that, although 
steps have been taken in various countries to give women full rights through 
legislation, it appears that there is still a lot of work to be done before the 
objective of full rights can be realised. The major snag, of course, is that tinlaw 
says one thing while practice is often different. In my opinion this is a fail 
observation and can be seen in many countries. For instance, a recent article 
in The Herald (Feb 17, 1988), entided "Role of Women in China Now 
Changing" notes that "The role and status of women in China have 
undergone great changes in recent years. But discrimination and prejudice 
still exist. Women, especially married women, cannot enjoy equal rights 
with men in many respects . . .". The authors of the two books .ngue thai 
diese double standards are a result of the "existence of attitudes and 
behaviours that reinforce and condone the existence of inequitable laws and 
inconsistent application of the law" (Empowerment and the Law, p 3). The 
suggestion put forward in these two publications for righting this wrong is to 
try and change people's attitudes and behaviours in this regard. The authors 
are evidendy unhappy about the progress made so far. For instance, in 
Women and the Law the authors lament that "over the past several years 
women in independent Soumern Africa have called for explanations of me 
laws which govern their lives and for reform of the laws they consider 
oppressive" (p 5), but it would appear this has by and large fallen on deaf 
•ears. By the same token, the authors of Empowerment and the Law regret 
that not much headway has been made and hence they are left with little 
alternative but to call on women everywhere to "deepen their understanding 
of the legal, cultural, political and economic underpinnings of then 
subordination" (p 1) if progress is to be made. 
Empowerment and the Law has a total of 55 case studies and it 
painstakingly tries to show how society creates and reinforces female 
oppression. It is also concerned with strategies for empowering women who 
are underprivileged and calls on them to "challenge and even subvert" the 
system in order to realise their goal of total emancipation. It explores 
developments taking place in third world countries with regard to the plight 
of women and urges that more be done. The book is in six parts, with topics 
including a family law project in Nigeria, a legal assistance programme in
Book Rniews 83 
Columbia, women workers and the law in Peru, women, land ownership 
and development in Sudan, violence and exploitation in Sri Lanka, prostitution 
and sexual exploitation in the Philippines — to name but a few 
of the issues covered. 
The final section, part 6, deals with the proceedings of the Nairobi 
Meeting of the Third World Forum on Women, Law and Development held 
in July, 1985 as part of the non-governmental activities connected with the 
United Nations Decade of Women. Some of the papers presented at the 
conference, as well as die recommendations, are reproduced in the book. 
The book also has a section on selected readings as well as a directory of 
contributors. 
Women and the Law in Southern Africa has 14 chapters, also laid out in 
6 parts. The different sections address diverse topics relating to the plight of 
women in die sub-region. The issues covered include women and property, 
women and marriage, die legal status of women and health matters, like its 
counter-part, part 6 of this book is a reproduction of die Women's 
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against 
Women as adopted by the United Nations on 19th December 1979 as part of 
the United Nations Decade of Women. 
The two books both document the problems confronting women as they 
struggle to take up their rightful place as participants, contributors, and 
beneficiaries of development. They bom call for action to improve die lot of 
women in various countries and agree that a knowledge of law is important 
and steps should be taken to educate women on laws that affect them 
direcdy. This is seen as being important considering the fact that women 
comprise a major social group who have been svstematirallv excluded from 
full economic and political participation in the production and benefits of 
development. The authors of die two books are at pains to identity and 
expose those structures of society diat are responsible for upholding and 
legitimising women's social and economic subordination and marginalisation 
in the development process. The hope, in trying to expose the 
structures, is that change may be effected. They bodi lament dial laws may 
be ineffective in practice because of extra-legal forces obtaining in die 
various societies, and diey further regret that in some cases dlere is even a 
pattern of legally sanctioned and constitutionally guaranteed subordination 
of women — for example, labour laws, penal laws and civil laws which 
govern legal capacity, rights and obligations in marriage, guardianship, 
inheritance, income, land rights and participation in public affairs. These 
are all areas in which change is required without delay. 
The two books are quite easy and interesting to read and the sequence of 
topics seems quite logical. My main reservation widi bodi texts, however, is 
diat they seem to over-dramatise the plight of women to a certain extent For 
instance diey seem to argue that no progress has been made whatsoever in
84 Book Reviews 
giving women their rights, when in actual fact it is common knowledge that 
many governments have made quite substant ial strides in this regard. Credit 
should be given were it is due but, in my opinion, the books will be found 
wanting in this respect. Another cause for concern is that the texts both seem 
to blame everyone else but women for the plight of women. The authors 
do not seem to want to acknowledge that in some instances some women are 
to blame for their situation. Women, for a number of reasons, have tailed 10 
stand up and be counted. In my opinion, they need to emancipate 
themselves from themselves first, before they can seek liberation from their 
male counterparts. There is a deafening silence in both books in this regard. 
A statement to this effect is conspicuous by its absence, and yet, if included, 
it would serve to strengthen, rather than weaken, the argument for women's 
emancipation. 
I also sense a certain amount of agitation and emotionalism in some of the 
statements made in the two books. Emotion, though sometimes an asset 
where mobilisation is the aim, is capable of affecting objectivity negatively. 
For instance, the call that women should not only challenge but even 
'subvert' the system in order to achieve their goal is at best ill-conceived. 
Harmony and peace must be the order of the day if women expect 
unflinching support and co-operation from their male counterparts. 
In spite of these criticisms, I should say the two books on women and the 
law are quite useful contributions to the literature on women and 
development and should be most valuable to those involved in women's 
studies at universities, colleges and similar institutions. The books should 
also be useful to those working with women and indeed those interested in 
women's issues per se. Legal personnel should also find the texts quite 
informative and useful and so should development workers in general. In 
particular the books will be a companion to development workers from the 
developed world employed by non-governmental organisations operating 
in the rural areas of developing countries. 
Both publications are highly recommended. 
Reviewed by Roderick Mupedziswa, School of Social Work, Harare. 
Money, Banking and Public Finance in Africa, Ann Seidman, ZED Press, 
London, 1986 (36Spp, £8,95 pbk, £22,9.5 hbk). 
This book is an interesting attempt to construct an analytical framework 
which is appropriate for an Understanding of the nature of the economic 
disequilibria which have wrought havoc with African economies and 
frustrated their attempts to attain desired objectives. Cases in point are the 
post-colonial declarations, genuine or otherwise, to carry out socialist 
transformation, and the contradictory and invidious conditions in which the 
various countries find themselves. The author seeks to depict the
Book Reiiews <?' 
peculiarities of the problems confronting African states, particularly in the 
areas of banking and finance, and the ways in which different countries in 
the continent have dealt with these problems. Among the topical problems 
identified in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 1980s are chronic balance of 
payments constraints, mounting budget deficits, rising indebtedness, rising 
inflation and vulnerability to exogenous variables. 
The book departs from standard convention first by combining in a single 
volume a treatment of money, banking and public finance. The author 
draws support for such an approach from the socialist view that financial 
crises can be overcome by state control and co-ordination of activities in the 
three fields. Secondly the book departs from standard convention by 
examining side by side two major theoretical perspectives, referred to as 
mainstream theory and Marxist theory, which adopt totally different 
methodologies and lead to different policy suggestions. 
Policy makers are supposed to combine the three fields when taking 
policy positions. For example a country's financial programme is essentially 
a set of synchronised policy measures in the area of money, fiscal policy and 
balance of payment measures intended to achieve given economic targets. If 
one considers the financing implications of budget deficits it becomes 
difficult to treat monetary and fiscal policies as strictly separate instruments 
(a la Tinbergen Mundell policy framework), especially in the context of the 
economies that this book is about. A mechanistic application of the 
conventional targets instrument approach would have limitations in such a 
context. This, however, does not mean that it should be rejected outright but 
rather that it should be tempered with a sensible judgement of reality. 
The book explains phenomena in terms of the two theoretical 
perspectives and analyses the three fields in terms of perspectives held by 
either theory with a view to ascertaining which of them offers a better 
explanation and therefore a better guide to policies. 
A problem solving methodology is adopted and the view that theories are 
not to be treated as dogmas but rather as guides to diagnose solutions is 
underscored. Indeed the linchpin of an effective development strategy is the 
setting up of a means-ends arrangement that is contextually germane. Such a 
relationship is essentially an empirical matter which if broken out of reduces 
hypotheses to a romanticisation of reality. The question that comes to mind 
concerns the extent to which the problem solving methodology is sustained 
in the book The author clearly has predilections for a more radical 
theoretical perspective, which in itself is not necessarily a negative thing. 
Reading through the book one gets an impression of an either/or situation 
with respect to theoretical perspectives. This stands in sharp contrast to the 
dictates of a problem solving method. If the focus is on the problem, ie 
poverty, then the choice is not so much between theoretical perspective A or 
B but rather between what is serviceable or otherwise at a practical level and
86 Book Reviews 
can lead to ways of tackling poverty. At a practical level there seems in be a 
strong case for an amalgam of useful theoretical perspectives which is not 
dictated to by ideological predilections. The problems experienced by the 
countries that the book is about, or anywhere else, do not present 
themselves in neat categories. 
The author's thesis, on the brutalising effects of colonialism, the structural 
conditioning effects of development strategies adopted, and the difficulties 
in revamping this set up, is quite forceful and convincing. However, the 
same cannot be said about the suggested solutions. There are many 
problems associated with the approach, and not least among them is an 
underestimation of the problems that the setting up of a socialist system 
attracts and the extent of the plots against it by the forces of capital. The book 
seems to accept, without questioning, the theoretical pronouncements 
about the intention to carry out socialist transformation. The lip service paid 
to this intention may not be an unimportant contributor to the retention of 
the status quo, it is worth noting that the rhetoric of politicians is a poor 
guide to their real intention in the economic field. 
While the author's broad categorisation of the mainstream theory and 
Marxian perspective is not incorrect, it is worth taking stock of the real 
differences between theoreticians within either category. Since these are not 
neutral to the policy positions advocated, contrasting theoretical perspectives 
is a useful expositional device which can be misleading if applied too 
rigidly in the real world. It is not unusual to find economists or politicians 
whose views on particular subjects do not consistently derive from uniform 
theoretical perspectives. 
The book has lour main parts. The first five chapters deal with money and 
banking issues. Within that section, the author draws on evidence from the 
experiences of banking s\ stems in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. The 
role of money in the process of development and the part played by banks is 
discussed from the point of view of the two main theoretical perspectives. 
The second part of the book examines the problem of public finance in 
African economies. The discussion is set against the background of an article 
which warns against the tendencies to financial irresponsibility to which 
socialist governments, and other developing countries, are predisposed 
because of their humane commitments. In developing countries, these 
tendencies are traced to the attempts to redress the distortions of colonial 
policies and to cope with crises of expectations. 
The author documents the genesis of the dilemma of public finances in 
African economies, and highlights the emergence of the recurrent cost 
problem, the widening gap between revenues and expenditures and the 
debt problem. The divergent conceptions of mainstream theories and 
Marxists in public finance are attributed to differences in views on the role of 
the state in the development process and money and banking. Debates on
Bonk Rnint's AT 
balanced budgets versus deficit spending, taxation structures and strategies 
and public debt are discussed in this framework. Among some of the 
author's findings is the tendency for the burden of taxation in many African 
countries to fall more heavily on indirect taxes, the underutilisation ot tax 
capacities, the inability of many countries to incorporate the expanded 
public sector into coherent plans to restructure economies, and the 
perpetuation of the status quo. 
Part III deals with the evolution of the international monetary system, the 
original sins of the Bretton Woods System, the integration of the African 
economies into the capitalist system and their vulnerability to disorders in 
the system. The main actors in the international monetary systems and their 
roles positive or negative over time are discussed. Among those the authors 
discussed are the transnational banks, the Euro-currency market, the Breton 
Woods institutions and the African Development Bank. In simple terms the 
theoretical position attributed to Marxists suggests a 'conspiracy theory' 
and that attributed to mainstream theory argues economic rationality and 
therefore non-interference with the 'efficient' operation of market forces. 
Part IV draws on the experiences of socialist countries in their efforts to 
build socialism. The conceptual framework for socialism is set up and the 
way in which national budgeting and planning are conducted is discussed. It 
is shown that the traditional policy instruments, such as monetary and fiscal 
policy, assume a different significance in terms of the way in which they are 
deployed. 
While the author acknowledges the raging debates among socialists and 
the reform taking place in centrally planned economies, she does not 
sufficiently highlight the underlying problems necessitating the reforms, 
especially if other aspiring countries are to derive lessons from these 
experiences. It could also have been useful to bring in the experience of 
developing countries that have made serious attempts to chart socialist 
paths. It is only through an intimate knowledge of the problems that 
African countries, intending to chart such a course, can stand a chance of 
success. By drawing too much on the experience of fully fledged and more 
developed socialist economies, the author's efforts could be criticised along 
the lines that the appropriateness of conventional economic theory, is also 
being questioned in developing countries. 
The book makes an interesting description and analysis of the problems 
facing African economies, but it is rather short on solutions and could be 
frustrating to policy makers. This simply goes to show that there are no 
panaceas for the development problem, the search for solutions should 
continue. Whatever the criticisms, the author has made a laudable attempt 
to plug the theoretical lacuna which still endures. There is a real need for 
concerted efforts to conceptualise African problems and develop more 
appropriate theoretical frameworks. Hopes for die future seem to lie with an
88 Book Reviews 
approach that engages in some amount of positive eclecticism rather than 
being parochial. The author's annotated bibliography is particularly helpful 
for students and economists interested in further research in this important 
area. 
One could not agree more with the author's suggestion that scholars and 
practitioners need to re-examine their theoretical views and policy 
prescriptions. Such re-examinations must be undertaken even if it turns 
upside down the very basis of conventional wisdom. Together with die 
author one would hope that the text will stimulate further research and 
evaluation and dius advance the cause of development. 
Reviewed by Obert Nyawata, African Development Bank, Abidjan. 
Social Work With Rural Peoples. Theory and Practice, Ken Collier, New 
Star Books, Vancouver, 1984 (144pp, no price given). 
This slim volume sets out to discuss the theory and practice of social work 
with rural people in North America, examining from an avowedly Marxist 
materialist perspective the nature of rural people's lives, experience and 
needs, and the impact social work can and could have on them. It is 
explicidy not a 'skills' book but a discussion of die need for social workers to 
'interpret', 'analyse' and 'construct' die realities of the rural setting so diat 
dieir practice may be effective and supportive rarfier dian irrelevant or 
oppressive. It aims to be of use to human service workers in rural areas in 
general, and to rural people themselves. 
Crucially, die audior draws attention to the need for different approaches 
to social work practice in rural areas from those typically learnt and 
experienced in die urban setting, and he points out the problems inherent in 
die (urban) 'outside expert' arriving in a rural area and expecting to be taken 
seriously. 
The author begins by oudining historical processes of economic 
development from foraging to agricultural and industrial economies. He 
draws attention to the similarity of present day foragers and agriculturalists, 
rural peoples, living on die periphery of centralised urban-based capitalist 
economies, to the position of developing countries vis-a-vis die developed 
world. Recognising diat the relationship between die developed and 
underdeveloped world, and likewise diat between the centralised urban 
sector and rural sectors within one country, are relationships of oppression, 
inequality and exploitation, he examines what role human service workers 
can play in ameliorating this situation. He argues that if such workers are not 
conscious of the reality of this exploitative economic and cultural relationship, 
dien they will by default serve to promote die process of exploitation 
by assisting people to adapt passively to the loss of their land, to family 
and cultural breakdown, and to impoverishment in general.
Book Reviews 89 
To play a valid and meaningful role in the lives of these people, social 
workers and others must understand the material conditions that have led to 
their marginalisation and the disruption of their communities, and must 
help people to find ways of reducing die negative impact of 'development' 
and of maintaining their dignity, rights and cultural identity. 
The author recognises that there is no single blueprint outlining how 
social workers should achieve this, particularly given the cultural and 
economic diversity of rural communities themselves — small nuclear family 
farmers, extended family farmers, different ethnic groupings, migrant 
labourers, the poor and unemployed — facing the rural penetration of 
advanced capitalism in different ways. The underlying necessity is for 
sensitive understanding and analysis and the capacity for widely diverse, 
flexible 'generalised' approaches, rather than narrow specialisation which 
precludes a holistic understanding of both die problems and of methods of 
tackling diem. 
To achieve such understanding, the author argues, it is essential that 
social workers live 'with the people', sharing in dieir social and work 
activities, and learning dieir priorities and problems first hand. This might 
involve learning a specific practical skill such as sheep shearing, or aspects of 
agriculture, so that the social worker is seen as having practical relevance as 
well as the more esoteric relevance of intellectual skills. This is argued to be 
particularly important when working with people who traditionally keep 
dieir problems to diemselves, even when they lack die wherewithall to 
resolve them. The social worker must be seen to be aligned closely widi die 
rural people rather dian being an apologist for die urban and alien 
centralised system. 
The message of the book is bodi a positive and a critical one. Rural 
peoples can successfully limit the predations of capitalism, and preserve 
important aspects of their lives, culture and livelihood intact, and social 
workers do have a constructive role to play in achieving this. On the other 
hand, in rural areas die insensitive and inappropriate application of 
'traditional' social work skills, values, knowledge and mediods is at the least 
irrelevant, and at worst downright destructive. 
In focusing on these issues, die author makes a useful contribution to a 
general, basic understanding of die rural situation, and he illustrates his 
points now and then with highly pertinent and vivid case studies. However, 
die main text tends to state radier than seriously to analyse his perspective on 
development, and also to become rather repetitive in the process. There is a 
tendency for the writing, apart from die case studies, to contain generalised 
abstracts rather than concrete, specific examples, and this makes for a radier 
dry presentation, and for unclear and incomplete analysis at times. For 
example, when describing foraging and agricultural communities and dieir 
kinship and otiier social formations, not one specific ethnic or cultural
90 Book Reviews 
group is mentioned by name to illustrate a point. North American Indians 
are either grouped together or described as diverse, with no concrete 
illustration. Further, there is no attempt to link the oppression of rural 
minorities and that of the urban poor, or to examine the relevance and 
appropriateness or otherwise of social work in urban contexts, let alone in 
the rural one. This narrow analysis seems to the reviewer to be a 
considerable weakness. 
Because of these limitations, it is perhaps unlikely that this book will do a 
great deal to convert those who do not share the author's perspective on 
development; and, for those already converted, it may serve to clarify and 
confirm some of their ideas, but may not take them very much further along 
the road of critical analysis (not to mention skill development): it is too 
general, too unclear, and too brief. 
But if to some degree it does promote a critical and concerned 
understanding of the rural situation, and stimulates discussion and a 
diversity of approach, then to that extent the book will have succeeded in its 
undeniably valid and constructive central aim. 
Reviewed by Helen Jackson, School of Social Work, Harare. 
Vocational Rehabilitation for Women with Disabilities, Sheila Stace, ILO 
Geneva, 1986 (38pp, Sfrs 12,50). 
This short monograph discusses the dual discrimination faced by disabled 
women seeking education, training and employment. It concludes that 
discrimination because of gender is probably of greater significance than 
discrimination because of disability, basing diis assessment on a review of 
literature in both developing and developed countries. 
Because of the wide geographical scope of die text, the author can only 
make rather general observations and proposals, and she acknowledges a 
great shortage of hard data and research on die subject which in itself reflects 
how hidden are the problems faced by disabled women. A computer search 
in die USA for references in psychology on disabled men and disabled 
women found 7 500 of die former, and only 19 of the latter. Nevertheless, 
some useful general points emerge from die review: 
"The literature discussed indicates diat underlying attitudes result in 
disabled women being offered fewer options, having lower aspirations 
and accepting a greater degree of dependency than their disability 
requires. It has also shown that vocational rehabilitation has not come 
to terms widi the real pattern of women's work and their dual role of 
homemaker and income earner." (p 24). 
The audior points out that sexist public attitudes are also internalised by die 
(predominandy male) professionals in all areas of vocational rehabilitation, 
and by disabled women themselves.
Book Reviews 91 
Disabled women, more than any other grouping, have been excluded 
from educational and vocational skills training programmes, material and 
financial assistance and work opportunities. At the same time they have 
difficulty in fulfilling home-making roles too. They are often over-protected 
or neglected by their families, so cannot fulfil traditional female roles in the 
home or subsistence activities, and their niarriageability is low. 
Measures suggested to improve the position of disabled women include 
proposals lor more Incused research; for extended action programmes at 
different levels to improve the status of women and of the disabled; 
recommendations specifically on vocational rehabilitation, and proposals 
for changing attitudes of the general public and of disabled women 
themselves. It is argued that improvements in the status, education, training 
and employment of women in general will have repercussions for disabled 
women in particular. 
Whilst having too broad a focus to provide very much practical detail and 
example in the analysis, the monograph nevertheless makes a useful and 
readable contribution to the subject of women and disability by highlighting 
the extent of the neglect, and encouraging a more developed sensitivity to 
the needs and rights of disabled women — and indeed, of women in general. 
Points are made clearly and concisely, and a manageable and up to date 
bibliography is provided for further reference. It also makes the essential 
point that disabled women themselves need to be included and actively 
involved in the struggle for recognition and improved life chances. 
In summary, this is a brief but valuable introduction to a much neglected 
subject. 
Reviewed by Helen Jackson, School of Social Work, Harare. 
The Importance of People — Experiences, lessons and ideas on rural 
development training in Zimbabwe: Hlekweni and beyond, Martin ile 
Graaf (Editor) and Brigid Willmore (Assistant Editor), Hlekweni FRSC, 
Bulawayo, 1987 (191pp, Z$8 plus s/tax). 
In 1987, Hlekweni Friends Rural Service Centre celebrated its 20th 
anniversary. Besides an Open Day at die Centre, Hlekweni staff, past and 
present, in collaboration with the Centre's friends and supporters, decided 
to produce a publication, as a more permanent tribute to the Centre and the 
people it serves. The Importance of People not only tells the story of 
Hlekweni and the philosophy behind it, but includes several contributions 
discussing current rural development training in Zimbabwe. Whilst 
Hlekweni is the starting point, the book as a whole provides a broader look at 
some aspects of development, and of training for development, throughout 
the country, with particular emphasis on the role and work of nongovernmental 
organisations (NGOs).
92 Book Reviews 
Part One of the book focuses on Hlekweni itself — the history, the idea 
and the context. We follow, through the five directors in post since 1967, the 
changes in the work of the Centre in the context of the changing political 
situation during the struggle for liberation, and into the early years of 
Independence. Based on a philosophy of service to its constituents — the 
people of Matabeleland — training was organised in response to the needs 
of the trainees and was geared towards learning relevant to the improvement 
of rural life, widi particular emphasis on agriculture. 
We see, diough, how the concepts of extension work, follow-up and 
flexibility in programming, whilst initially a response to the social and 
environmental upheaval during the liberation struggle, were eventually 
modified by those very factors, although management and personnel 
problems also played a role. The increasing isolation of the Centre — from 
other Centres and programmes, and from the people it was established to 
serve — has continued into the post-independence years, as a result of the 
current security situation in the south of the country. 
A participatory evaluation in 1985 recommended the way forward for 
Hlekweni, in terms of regaining the original commitment to service, 
dialogue, flexibility and full involvement in the local community. As de 
Graaf, Uussey and Ncube indicate, in their brief overview of Zimbabwe 
with particular reference to Matabeleland, development in the region 
remains hampered by the effects of long-term drought, the lack of peace and 
political stability, and an under-estimation of the community's ability to 
articulate its own needs. It is no doubt hoped that the recently negotiated 
unity accord will 'open up' Matabeleland again, allowing development to 
proceed. The practicalities of how Hlekweni will fulfil a meaningful role 
within this development are not, however, spelt out. Maybe this is because 
Hlekweni has stopped listening to its constituents; perhaps because it is 
pursuing a 'strategy' rather than responding to a 'need'. 
If this is the case, the Centre will be in good company with most of die 
authors who contribute to Parts Two and Three of the book. As one goes 
from one contribution to the next — firstly in Part Two on "Training for 
Rural Development: Strategy" and in Part Three on "Training for Rural 
Development: Some Issues"— a number of questions spring to mind, and 
die lack of answers becomes increasingly frustrating: 
— what exactly is a training 'strategy', and if people are important, how 
important are they relative to strategy? 
— if people are important, how important are they relative to 'target 
groups'? (my understanding of a target is something which is shot at) 
— having defined a growing diversity of target groups through reference 
to various lowest common denominators (as per the contribution by Kidd 
and Kelly on training farmers in Binga), what are we to say to those who 
are no longer targeted (being shot at)? What are they going to say to us?
Book Reviews 93 
Are they now less important as people? 
— if people are important, why do they not have much of a say in the case 
histories which die authors discuss? 
— why does the reader increasingly get the impression diat training is 
something one 'does' to people, however hard die well-intentioned try to 
'do' it? 
In his contribution in Part Four —"Who Calls the Tune — Training in a 
Changing Environment"— de Graaf raises some of diese questions but 
never really concludes diem. Other contributors — for example, diose who 
discuss appropriate technology, networking and die relationship between 
donor agencies and recipient organisations — touch on similar as well as 
odier problematic areas, but, again, in a somewhat irresolute manner. 
All die contributors stress die need to involve, motivate, conscientise, 
empower, network with and listen to trainees — they variously describe how 
training centres must proceed about dieir training in a fundamentally 
participatory and democratic manner (as Hlekweni has endeavoured to do). 
But one major question remains unanswered, as far as I can see. Can a 
training centre, given its very nature as an institution, as an organisation, 
comprised of buildings, timetables, staff, menus and mealtimes, structures 
and a physical and geographical rootedness, ever hope to achieve diis ideal? 
Probably not; and sadly the book does not give us one practical example of 
how a training centre has managed to break die mould, as it were. Perhaps 
diat was not its purpose — but so many contributions relating to dieories of 
training and development would have been well off-set by some papers 
describing real-life efforts to make people important in die manner 
prescribed by diose dieories. 
I am not a trainer, aldiough I find myself 'doing' it from time to time. 
Perhaps, dierefore, I am over-critical of a publication in which trainers may 
find die scope of the discussion and die issues raised of use in dunking about 
their approach to dieir work. All of us widi a commitment to development in 
diis country, however, should congratulate and thank our colleagues who 
contributed to diis book for doing what die rest of us never get around to — 
putting pen to paper, opening up die debate and drawing togedier die issues 
on die agenda. Hopefully diis is die first of many Zimbabwean publications 
about Zimbabwean development 
Reviewed by Frances Chinemana, Freelance Consultant, Harare. 
The Politics of Hunger (The Global Food System), John W Warnock, 
Mediuen & Co London (no price given). 
This is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in knowing why, 
despite all the advances in science and technology, hunger is still present in 
all countries including highly industrialised capitalist societies. The book
94 Bonk Rnnnes 
encompasses all aspects of nutrition, and interaction with population, 
agriculture, environment, economics, ideologies and development, in a 
readable manner, with plenty of references so that it is easy to find out why 
diere are problems of hunger everywhere in the world. The author proposes 
solutions in a provocative manner, providing some information on how 
different countries have tackled the situation of hunger. Although proposing 
solutions, he does not impose his ideas on the readers, but invites thought; 
what may be applicable in one country is unlikely to be applicable in all. 
The book is about food and combating hunger. So there are chapters 
about agriculture and economic development and their relationship in 
highly industrialised countries, and in countries in Latin America and Africa 
which are still developing. The author mentions the different ideological 
approaches to world hunger in Chapter 2. In Chapters 6 and 7 he talks about 
die industrial food system which exists in all states, but notes that the extent 
varies according to the degree of industrial development. This leads to die 
problems of unequal distribution of populations, and of land which can 
produce food easily because suitable soils, water and energy are all present. 
Chapter 8 is about the loss of food land-resources as seen particularly in the 
industrialised countries, and chapter 9 is a discussion on how much food the 
world can produce. Chapter 10 is entided Food and Agriculture under 
Capitalism, and Chapter 11 discusses the alternatives that are available for 
underdeveloped countries. The author does his best to put forward differing 
points of view and gives plenty of references. 
One weakness of this book is that is seeks to cover such a broad field dial 
generalisations arc inevitable. However, Zimbabwean social scientists and 
students could benefit from applying the knowledge within this book to the 
local scene. As the author says, countries are unequal in many forms, and, 
until modern communications and technology linked all countries more 
closely and made them more interdependent, their first need was to feed 
their own peoples. A basic staple, be it maize, rice, wheat, or potatoes, 
together with me;it m IKh. if ;m<l when available, and supplemented by local 
vegetables and (Yuiiv pioviileil .in adequate diet when people ale what they 
Hi«-w or produced locally. Now in the more highly industrialised societies 
people eat a much wider range of foodstuffs and expect a larger choice of 
these in the shops. The comparison between the foods stocked in die local 
rural general dealer's and the supermarkets of the urban areas is testimony 
to different eating patterns. Malnutrition can be both under and over 
nutrition, namely kwashiorkor and obesity. People can not be compelled to 
eat certain foods because they are good for them, any more than they can be 
ordered to grow certain foods, ranch cattle, or limit the size of their families. 
This book seeks to educate on the choices available. 
The decisions that have to be made are different for Zimbabwe or for 
Cuba, for example. Choices depend on the costs and benefits of the different
Book Reinews 9} 
food alternatives, and what might be the most efficient option in the field of, 
say, improving agricultural production might not be the most economic 
option. Economic efficiency requires the minimisation of costs, and the 
maximisation of food production. Inefficiency is unemical. How does this fit 
in with the global food system? The author having provided the 
information, leaves the readers to think this out for themselves. 
Each chapter in this book could be expanded to a book in itself. The last 
chapter is called 'Summary and Conclusion', but it would be a mistake to 
think that by reading the last chapter one could save oneself from reading 
the whole book. There is so much food for thought here that the book should 
be required background reading for those interested in social development. 
Africa cannot be isolated fron the rest of the world, and this book 
highlights the interdependence of countries whatever their stage of 
development. I would highly recommend this book for sixth, form and 
undergraduate students, and all those interested in knowing about food 
production and distribution and the effects this has on energy resources, the 
environment, pollution, population pressures, and finally the approaches 
made to these problems by the different ideologies. 
Reviewed by Alison Brydone, National Committee of Zimbabwe Freedom 
from Hunger Campaign, Harare. 
How Are We Doing? A Framework for Evaluating Development 
Education Programs, Roland Case (Principal Author), edited by Martha 
Keehn and Walter Werner, InterAction, American Council for Voluntary 
International Action, New York, 1987 (125pp, US$8,50). 
This interesting publication is the product of the work of a number of North 
American individuals and organisations, specifically InterAction (USA), the 
Canadian Council for International Cooperation, the Centre for the Study 
of Curriculum and Instruction of the University of British Columbia 
(Canada), and the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (New 
York). The Preface and Introduction note that this handbook is also the 
product of a number of programme evaluation workshops, some of which 
utilised preliminary written materials, and this process element is reflected 
in the general approach that the publication takes, viz to provide a practical 
framework for understanding and approaching evaluation. 
The publication provides a framework, as the tide suggests, for evaluating 
development education programmes and so utilises examples from this area 
to illustrate the various stages, techniques, issues, etc that are presented. 
However, the framework identified is also valuable for the evaluation of any 
other development programme or project, and the handbook's usefulness is 
not restricted to evaluating development education programmes per se. The 
publication is referred to by the authors as a handbook, and the consistent
96 Book 
step by step approach to evaluation presented in it, and the easy to follow 
format, does give it the advantage of a handbook which could be used by 
individuals and groups who wish to introduce themselves to, or increase 
their skills in, evaluation, particularly in relation to planning and research 
methodologies and techniques. 
After a general introductory chapter which looks at the what, why and 
when of evaluation, the balance of the publication is divided into seven 
stages or chapters, as follows: 
Stage 1: Setting Aims 
Stage 2: Launching the Evaluation 
Stage 3: Formulating the Design 
Stage 4: Constructing Instruments 
Stage 5: Collecting Data 
Stage 6: Analysing Results 
Stage 7: Delivering the Pay-Off. 
Each stage is then further subdivided into major component areas, which 
are presented with more or less detail in keeping with the complexity and 
involvement of the particular area. 
The publication is generally presented in a simple and logical way, in a 
step by step manner, which leads the reader through both a planning and 
a research process. This is one of the particularly valuable elements of the 
book, as it presents evaluation as part of the planning process, and basedxm 
asound research methodology and technique, with the aim of increasing the 
effectiveness of development education programmes by increasing the 
effectiveness of the planning process itself. Evaluation is, therefore, not 
presented as an end in itself nor simply as a me:im to secure further funding 
for programmes. Both planning and research are presented as major 
underlying concerns in any evaluation process which is to have both 
credibility and reliability. 
In addition the continuing theme of participation is established from the 
introductory chapter and in Stage 1 and is continued throughout the book, 
focusing on all those who need to be involved in an evaluation if it is to be 
successful in the end — ie if its findings are to be utilised. The definition of 
the evaluation 'stakeholders' as all those who have a concern with the results 
of the evaluation is useful. However, an even more direct emphasis on the 
question of participation as it relates to the 'recipients' of programmes 
would have been appreciated, particularly during the course of the 
unwinding of the various stages. In this respect the TALC publication 
Partners in Evaluation (Feuerstein: 1986) is a useful adjunct to How Are We 
Doing? 
Stage/Chapter 2 concentrates on establishing and spelling out the 
mandate for the evaluation and ethical principles of procedure. This is an 
area that, to my mind, is not often enough considered in the research design,
Book Reviews 97 
but an area that is very much in keeping with the publication's emphasis on 
participation and responsibility in evaluation. 
The detail found in the discussions of Stages 3 and 4, stages which come to 
grips with the actual design and construction of the evaluation research 
process, is important and particularly valuable to workers new to the 
evaluation process. However, the incorporation of some practical examples 
to work through may have helped to begin the process of developing skills in 
these areas, skills which are not readily learned through simply reading and 
discussing an area, but which require practical experience and a reflection 
on that experience. 
The Table of Contents is very dearly laid out and identifies the main 
components covered in each stage/chapter. The glossary at the end of the 
publication is particularly valuable and provides, in one place, useful 
definitions of the major terms used in the book. The Selected Readings lists 
provided at the end of each chapter look useful, but, as may be expected, 
are, with the exception of one British source, all North American 
publications. This may make these references less useful for Third World 
readers who may not readily have access to them. 
This publication is a very useful tool for the introductory training of 
fieldworkers and programme staff in die elements of evaluation, based on a 
knowledge and understanding of research and planning techniques, and 
was used successfully in this way by this reviewer during die course of diis 
review. 
My major reservation about this publication is the terminology used at 
various points, terminology and colloquialisms that may be appropriate in 
die North American situation in which die publication was formulated, but 
which are not particularly appropriate for many Third World readers and 
practitioners. Specifically die tide of the last chapter, "Delivery of die Pay- 
Off' could be a problem — why not simply "Presenting and Using die 
Results"? Additional examples include die use of die word 'standards' 
where indicators or criteria are more usually used, and die use of the terms 
'the stake' and 'stakeholders'. 
I consider this publication, and the evaluation framework it presents, a 
valuable resource for training for evaluation, and for field and programme 
staff working in development programmes and projects. The step by step 
approach taken presents evaluation in a way that can be understood and 
appreciated widi some ease, while die emphasis on planning and research, 
and die reference to participation and die ediics of evaluation, are points 
well made. My reservations relate, as noted above, to some of die language 
and terminology used, and die lack of dear practice examples in die text, 
particularly in relation to die construction of a research design and die 
research, instruments, and in die analysis of results and die use of various 
statistical procedures that may be required for diis analysis.
98 Book Reviews 
This small publication is highly recommended as an introduction to and 
overview of the evaluation process for anyone working in a development 
agency. 
Reviewed by Brigid Willmore, Journal of Social Development in Africa, 
Harare. 
References 
Feuerstein Marie-Theres (1986) Partners in Evaluation, TALC/Macmillan, 
London. 
Conflict Management and Problem Solving: Interpersonal to International 
Applications, Dennis J D Sandole and Ingrid Sandole-Staroste 
(eds), Frances Pinter, London, 1987 (321pp, price not given). 
This book certainly lives up to its name — there are a great variety of 
examples of conflict situations, and consideration of their solutions from 
almost every conceivable sector. In all there are 40 individual contributions, 
including situations of divorce, family mediation, community relations, 
dispute reduction in prison settings, environmental mediation, labourmanagement 
disputes, terrorism and hostage negotiation, East-West 
relations and the prevention of nuclear war. These contributions and 
statements vary considerably, both in depth of analysis and content, but are 
linked by their common concern for dispute resolution and the solution of 
social problems. As such this volume genuinely may be seen — as stated in 
the Introduction — as an 'outcome of multiple convergences' (pi). 
Specifically the book is the culmination of a series of lectures given at the 
Center for Conflict Resolution at George Mason University in the United 
States. The contributors not only include staff from this University, but also 
prominent academics and practitioners in this field. 
As we read the book we become aware that the field of conflict 
management is a growing scientific discipline in its own right (or perhaps an 
'interdiscipline'), with its own body of literature, theories and methodologies 
in the process of formulation. This book should contribute in large measure 
to a further definition of this subject matter. Of additional use is an extensive 
list of books, monographs and articles on this topic at the end of the book, 
which is certainly worth consultation. 
Substantial sections of the book are devoted to the elaboration of a 
theoretical framework for conflict resolution, and to a significant extent this 
is achieved. Of particular interest to me were the discussions on the 
'Prisoner's Dilemma Game' (introduced by Morton Deutsch) and the 'Joint 
Outcome Space' of Roger Ricftman. These outline the competitive 
'Win/Lose' (zero sum) option as opposed to the co-operative 'Win/Win' 
(positive sum) option, the former is normally selected in protagonist
Book Rnirws V9 
situations. The cooperative option, also termed 'integrative negotiation', 
emphasises the need for the parties to a dispute to try and establish some 
relationship and trust with each other. This can only come about through 
the process of direct exchanges between the parties, even though they may 
go through stages of 'adversarial contact' with each other. However the 
commitment to joint outcomes, as opposed to unilateral outcomes, means 
that each party should be able to achieve some positive result for themselves, 
without necessarily destroying or undermining the other side. Dean Pruitt in 
his chapter outlines a typology of integrative agreements which can assist in 
achieving collaborative bargaining. One example here is the 'bridging' 
proposal, where the 'interests underlying the interests' of each party are 
examined to a depth that allows development of a bridge between the parties 
concerned. 
It is obvious that parties to a dispute may not be able to setde the conflict 
on their own, Hence there may be need for outside or third party 
intervention. James Laue identifies five of these conflict intervention roles— 
viz activist, advocate, mediator, researcher and enforcer, each of which can 
be seen as one stage removed from the actual conflict itself. 
Surely the most valuable 'spin-offs' from any theory of conflict resolution 
are die applied possibilities. We keep encountering these mrough die book, 
although it is again dear that more use needs to be made of the elaborated 
dieory and researchers need to consider the practical applications more 
seriously. However in many cases diis may not be for want of trying on the 
part of the researchers involved. A good example illustrated here was the 
combined effort of 'a group of scholars and practitioners of international * 
dispute settlement' (p 286) to offer its services to the parties to the Malvinas- 
Falkland Island dispute (ie Britain and Argentina), in an attempt to prevent 
die situation, deteriorating into armed conflict. Unfortunately, and as history 
bears witness, the offer was not considered seriously and die two nations 
fought a brief limited war over the issue. 
Considerable insight is shown into die dynamics of die super-power 
rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, in particular how 
mutual distrust creates a spiral of 'force-counter-force' diat may lead 
inevitably to a nuclear exchange. Sensible alternatives to diis escalation are 
presented to us, and the point is emphasised by several writers that the 
Soviet Union has litde, if any, desire to enter a major war, following their 
disastrous experience during die Second World War. However, in spite of 
the obvious good sense of these options, one contributor (Ralph White) gives 
us a pessimistic prediction of an evens chance of a major nuclear war 
between now and die year 2000. Apart from any odier argument advanced, 
die fact diat such an event is a distinct possibility for mankind should 
underline die urgency for research into die area of conflict resolution. 
The multiplicity of chapters is to some extent daunting to die reader, yet
100 Book Reviews 
some degree of coherence is retained by the fact that authors often refer to 
points made in previous chapters,and by the well-ordered layout of the 
book. 
The Third World does not feature as an area of interest in this book — 
despite the fact that the majority of the world's major conflicts are fought in 
diis arena! This probably has to do with the backgrounds of the 
contributors, who are predominantly American, with many having held 
senior positions in governmental agencies in the United States. However it 
is also likely that some of the authors would contend that Third World 
conflicts are primarily symptomatic of global super-power conflicts in any 
case. Yet the book still has much to offer us in this part of the world as it 
provides a great deal of insight into the processes and mechanics of conflict 
generation and ways to seek its resolution. It is a useful and practical 
contribution to the serious task of seeking solutions and alternatives to the 
often violent conflicts that continue to plague our world. 
Reviewed by Nigel Hall, School of Social Work, Harare. 
Social Welfare in Africa, John Dixon (ed), Croom Helm, London, 1987 
(358pp, £27,50 hbk). 
I approached die review of diis publication, advertised as a comparative 
social welfare volume focusing on Africa, with some anticipation and 
interest. There is no doubt about the need for more published and 
accessible information about social security and personal social service 
systems in Africa. In addition the need for more comparative analyses from 
which models can be derived and built and used for future planning is more 
man dear. 
Social Welfare in Africa is the third volume of a six volume series, edited 
by John Dixon, which looks at comparative social welfare in Africa, Asia, the 
Middle East, Latin America, under socialism and in developed market 
economies. In this volume on Africa, for each of the ten country studies 
presented, the overall format for each chapter is the same and includes the 
welfare system environment, die welfare system an overview, the aged, 
children and youdis, die handicapped, needy families, die sick and injured, 
die unemployed, an assessment of die welfare system, and references and 
further reading. Each country is presented as a separate chapter and the only 
point of active comparison undertaken is this common framework of 
presentation of information — and even diis framework is only die very 
general framework in which specific approaches to information are men 
taken by each chapter audior. 
As noted earlier, ten countries are presented using the framework 
indicated, all of diese countries are from sub-Saharan Africa, only one is a 
Francophone country and none are Lusophone. In the absence of any
Book Revieios 101 
explanation of the reasons for the choice of countries included I seriously 
doubt the wisdom of calling this collection of country studies Social Welfare 
in Africa. Would it not be more honest to call this collection Social Welfare 
in Sub-Saharan English Speaking Africa? It certainly would, with the 
exception of the Ivory Coast and possibly Ethiopia, have been a more 
accurate indication of what is contained in the volume. This general point is 
even more important because of the lack of an active comparative analysis, 
as mentioned earlier. Were these countries to be seen as atypical, or typical 
of certain systems, are they die ones which have definitive policies, or on 
which information of a coherent nature is available, or was it simply that the 
editor could identify resource people in these countries? Or does the 
explanation lie in a sentence from die Preface (no page number) 
"It is pointless to attempt to compare countries that are fundamentally 
different, hence the regional focus of this tighdy structured andiology." 
The lack of any odier explanation of die choice of countries is a serious 
ommission — furthermore I wonder if die editor means to imply diat there 
are no fundamental differences within the 'region' of Africa? What is the 
point of comparative analysis if we cannot compare different approaches, 
and their effects, as they emerge from different histories and ideologies? 
The ten countries presented here — Ethiopia, Ghanajvory Coast, Kenya, 
Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe — are 
presented with a wealth of information, almost in too much detail in some 
cases. This weakh of information is very valuable, but a litde difficult to 
digest in die manner presented, particularly in die absence of any odier 
comparative framework than die common chapter outline. I am forced to 
wonder what the role of the editor is in a publication of this kind, as the 
editor seems hardly to impinge on the publication after defining die initial 
oudine. At the very least I would have expected an introduction and 
conclusion diat assisted the reader to develop a framework for the analysis of 
die contents, pointing out similariries and differences, particularly successful 
or problematic areas, the influence of ideology and history, the different 
options recognised in view of similar histories, emerging trends for social 
welfare in Africa, and so on. How much more valuable would this 
publication have been if this had been done, and how much more seriously 
comparative in its nature (and in terms of its promise). Can we seriously call 
a selection of contributions by different authors on different countries (in die 
editor's words an 'andiology') a comparative study simply because the 
articles are included in one publication, and are presented using a common 
framework? Does not the notion of comparison imply that some 
conclusions or trends would be drawn out, and indeed compared. Doesn't 
die notion of social welfare in Africa imply that die selection of countries to 
be included would have defined criteria and run the full gamut of 
backgrounds and present positions in Africa? Indeed in other writings by
102 Book Reviews 
Dixon (for example, Dixon and Schuerell, 1987) the comparative element 
has been much more pronounced and the information presented, therefore, 
that much more useful. 
There are also a number of smaller items of format that need attention 
and were distracting to this reviewer. In particular a map of Africa showing 
the geographical location, and perhaps other graphic information, of the 
countries presented was missed. The length of the presentations varied quite 
considerably, and widi litde relation to die size or (dare I say it) importance 
of the country — for example, Mauritius and Ghana use well over 40 pages 
each while Nigeria and Ediiopia barely 20 pages each. The appendices too 
are presented in a rather strange manner, widiout any explanation or real 
reference to diem, and using whole and half pages widiout any explanation 
for mis. Happily, however, die volume is indexed quite dioroughly. 
In brief dien, diis volume of writings on die social welfare systems of a 
selection of African countries is useful and valuable in die wealdi of 
information it presents. However, diere are serious limitations to its being 
presented as being of a comparative nature and a more explicit drawing out 
of some diemes, trends, conclusions, etc in an introductory and concluding 
chapter (at die very least) would have made die publication, in my opinion, a 
more useful text 
Reviewed by Brigid Willmore, Journal of Social Development in Africa, 
Harare. 
References 
Dixon J and Schuerell R (1987) "Social Security in Australia and die 
United States: A Comparison of Value Premises and Practices" in The 
Journal of International and Comparative Social Welfare, Vol HI, 1 
and 2, Spring and Fall, 1987. 
Plantations and Plantation Workers, J P Sajhau and J Von Muralt, ILO, 
Geneva, 1987 (207pp, Sfrs 27,50). 
This book has been written by two senior members of ILO and published by 
mat organisation. It follows the previous approach of ILO reports on 
plantations and is basically descriptive, depending on questionnaires sent to 
countries combined widi case studies. The book reviews die origins and 
concepts of plantations but skirts around controversy. 
The trends in production, consumption and die price of plantation crops 
are well described. The general pattern of increasing production combined 
widi static or declining consumption leading to declining prices is 
documented. The export dependency of countries on primary commodity 
plantation crops is described, but die vulnerability diese countries face due 
to die vagaries of international prices is neglected. The efforts to stabilise 
prices dirough International Agreements are described, diough die oudook
Book Reviews 103 
for most primary products is gloomy. The great diversity of structures widiin 
plantations and plantation economies is commented upon. Three themes 
are identified: 
(1) The shift of multinational corporations out of primary agricultural 
production into processing of primary products. 
(2) The shift in the pattern of ownership either to local control or to state 
ownership. 
(3) The development of joint ventures. 
Developments in technology in relation to production (genetic improvements, 
disease control and mechanisation) are described. Contrary to 
experiences in other industries these innovations may increase the demand 
for labour due to increased yields. 
The effects of government policy in relation to plantations are considered 
in relation to a number of countries. Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Cuba are cited 
for dieir nationalisation of estates. Ghana, Jamaica and Kenya are used as 
examples of countries which have attempted to support small holder 
production. Mauritius and the Dominican Republic are described as 
economies dependent on a plantation crop. The efforts to diversify crops in 
the Philippines are mentioned. The Malaysian example of how Malaysian 
business and government capital were used to buy out multinational 
corporations to establish national control is described. All of these country 
studies are long on description and short on analysis. Why did productivity 
fell in Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Jamaica? In Sri Lanka persistent 
undercapitalisation for the period 1960-1974 occurred. In Tanzania the 
international price of sisal fell while oil based products quadrupled in price. 
In Jamaica, while there was an attempt to redistribute land, the control of 
processing and thus the price paid remained in the control of multinational 
corporations. 
The patterns of labour availability, employment and conditions arc 
described. In some countries, eg Malaysia and Kenya, shortages occur. 
However, the reasons for these shortages (low wages relative to other 
sections and bad working and living conditions) are not mentioned. The 
unemployment and underemployment of workers in Sri Lanka are 
documented. The fact that such Tamil workers are not safe to seek work 
elsewhere and are thus captive within the sector is ignored. The shift from 
permanent to temporary, from male to female and child employment, and 
from wage employment to piece work payment is described in many 
countries. 
The setting of wages through tripartite agreements occurs in many 
countries often with governments setting minimum wages. The section on 
wage comparisons is most disappointing as the wages are given in nominal 
terms. In real terms die wages actually fell. The section on living conditions 
and occupational safety and health is disappointing. The origin of die
104 Book Reviews 
provision of housing in slave labour is mentioned. The recognition that 
productivity is related to housing is accepted. The legal provisions for 
housing in many countries is described, but the uneven implementation of 
these acts is skirted over. Innovative housing schemes, as occur in Malaysia, 
are mentioned as is the Plantation Labour Act of India with the attendent 
grant and loan schemes. 
The poor standards of health, child care, primary education and 
occupational safety are all mentioned. Innovative schemes, such as the 
Comprehensive Labour Welfare schemes in South India, are described. The 
weakness of unions in the plantation sector is highlighted as a problem for 
effective mobilisation to improve conditions. The conclusion of the book 
relates to the respective roles of government, employers and unions in 
relation to plantations. 
This book is essential reading for anybody interested in studying 
plantations. It should be read in conjunction with other ILO publications 
(eg Kurian, 1982; ILO, 1984) and the bibliography by Kirk (1987). The 
publication "People in plantations — Means or Ends" (IDS, 1987) covers 
similar ground to this book but is more analytical and critical. 
The ILO, by its tripartite.structure, has to balance on an unsteady path. 
This book reflects the problems this causes. The book is strong on 
description, weak on analysis and neglects controversy. Plantations are 
changing but where are they going? In many of the countries which have 
consented to remain primary producers for Western consumers, the oudook 
is grim. 
Alternatives exist, but these have been neglected. This book may be seen 
as the first word but definitely not the last word on plantations. 
Reviewed by Richard Laing, Ministry of Health, Harare, Zimbabwe. 
References 
IDS (1987) People in Plantations—Means or Ends, IDS Bulletin Vol 
18 No 2, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex. 
ILO (1984) Management in Tea Plantations, Geneva. 
Kurian R (1982) "Women workers in the Sri Lanka Plantation Sector" in 
Women Work and Development, ILO, Geneva. 
Kurk C (1987) People in Plantations, Annotated Bibliography, Institute of 
Development Studies, Sussex!