Richard Dowden

British journalist and author specializing in African affairs; former director of the Royal African Society and author of 'Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles'.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Africa

    Altered States, Ordinary Miracles

    A lively, panoramic account that blends travel reportage, historical overview and political analysis to explain how colonial legacies, kleptocratic rule, civil wars and exploitative external interests have shaped contemporary Africa, while also celebrating the resilience, creativity and economic dynamism of its peoples; the author criticizes misguided aid and foreign policy, emphasizes African agency, and urges practical, locally grounded solutions rather than simplistic victim narratives.

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