Gabon: The Development of a Nation (Routledge Revivals)

First published in 1987 and in English in 1989, Gabon provides an essential introduction to the geography, history, sociology, economics and politics of Gabon in considerable detail.It assesses Gabon’s achievement-the initiation of a national minimum wage, of a campaign for women's rights, of an advanced health and education policy and the political and economic dangers it still faces.The smooth transition of Francophone Africa from colonies to republics was achieved largely because both sides benefitted.In retrospect, as Africa continues to be plagued by drought, disease and poverty, the advantages may appear to have been one sided.Gabon is one of the few countries to have escaped the African poverty trap.It's rapid emergence as an important oil producer and its stable independent political stance have made it an African success story. Gabon incorporated and adapted much of the colonial administrative structure into its own republican constitution and began to redeploy its resources e