Malawi is one of the poorest countries on the globe. Subsistence agriculture remains at the very heart of its social fabric, and also lies at the root of its tremendous poverty. Yet while Malawi is among the worst performers in terms of per capita income and infant mortality, it is also a surprising leader in other areas (such as freedom of the press), has enjoyed over fifty years of relative stability since independence, and still holds great potential for economic development. Bringing together some of the leading experts on the country, this collection offers a comprehensive introduction to contemporary Malawi, encompassing its economy, culture, and politics. An invaluable resource for scholars and development professionals alike, the book assesses the root causes of Malawi''s impoverishment, and also offers insight into how the country might break out of its development impasse.>

In a concise way, the contributions to this volume capture essentials of Malawi's post-colonial trajectory fifty years into Independence. The editors wonder at the beginning of their Introduction, is writing a book about Malawi worth the effort? - After reading the chapters that follow, the answer is clearly yes.

Vorwort
The first comprehensive study of contemporary Malawi, providing insight into the origins of its present poverty

Autorentext
Matthias Rompel is teaching Development Studies as Honorary Professor at Giessen University, Germany. He has been working as a development professional in Africa for the last 20 years. He is the Head of the Southern Africa Division of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the German governments international cooperation agency.Reimer Gronemeyer is Professor of Sociology at Giessen University. He has researched and written on Africa for over forty years, and has worked as a consultant for agencies including GIZ and the Red Cross.

Inhalt
List of illustrations About the contributors Acknowledgements Introduction - Matthias Rompel and Reimer Gronemeyer 1. Malawi five decades after independence: failed state or latecomer? - Matthias Rompel 2. Malawi's rocky route to democratic consolidation - Heiko Meinhardt 3. The macroeconomic and political foundations of endemic poverty in Malawi - Ronald Mangani 4. Public financial management and its linkages with the broader governance reform agenda: the snail pace of reform - Barbara Dutzler 5. Religion and politics in Malawi: a critical stock-taking - Martin Ott 6. Maize and malnutrition in Malawi: food crisis, farmers' knowledge, and climate change - Michaela Fink, Reimer Gronemeyer, and Jonas Metzger 7. Agriculture, biofuels, and strategies for food security in Malawi - Lameck Mwewa 8. Tourism development in Malawi: rankings and realities - Adrienne Harris Index