Poisoned Wells: The Dirty Politics of African Oil

Poisoned Wells: The Dirty Politics of African Oil
Nicholas Shaxson | 2007-03-20 00:00:00 | Palgrave Macmillan | 288 | Economics

Each week the oil and gas fields of sub-Saharan Africa produce well over a billion dollars' worth of oil, an amount that far exceeds development aid to the entire African continent. Yet the rising tide of oil money is not promoting stability and development, but is instead causing violence, poverty, and stagnation. It is also generating vast corruption that reaches deep into American and European economies. In Poisoned Wells, Nicholas Shaxson exposes the root causes of this paradox of poverty from plenty, and explores the mechanisms by which oil causes grave instabilities and corruption around the globe. Shaxson is the only journalist who has had access to the key players in African oil, and is willing to make the connections between the problems of the developing world and the involvement of leading global corporations and governments.

Reviews
very enlightening about the way african leaders may use heir stash to influence western political ideology and world affairs.
Reviews
Every responsible reader and serious seeker of "enlightenment" usually applies a "credibility check" to new information.

When author Nicholas Shaxson, in the opening chapter of his book, "Poisoned Wells," badly mischaracterized the Biafra-Nigeria War of 1967-1970, I could not read any further.

In trying to support his assertion that Oil is the root cause (or at least, a major cause) of post-colonial Africa's problems, he force-fits that terrible war into "Oil" context. How do I know? Well, I was there: was old enough to live in Nigeria up to the War, live through that War fighting in it on the Biafran side, and live after the war in Nigeria, until decided that I am truly Biafran, not Nigerian.

This book has failed a critical credibility test.

Please send my comments to this author.

Oguchi Nkwocha, MD.

Nwa Biafra

A Biafran Citizen.


Reviews
Shaxson produces a highly readable and informative blend of anecdotes and analysis to make sense of Africa's oil predicament. Shaxson avoids glib solutions and easy judgements. It is the lesser-known oil producers which he does best on, notably Sao Tome and Principe and Equatorial Guinea. He has a good and detailed grasp of the subject matter, but has the wit and narrative skills to keep the less-informed reader on board with a series of entertaining almost travelogue-style pieces on indiviual countries visited.
Reviews
Shaxson's introduction and preliminary chapters immediately prove that he is a bona fide Africa expert. Having extensively lived and worked there, getting closely acquainted with the politicians, industrialists and average joes, he knows his topic better than any ivory tower academic or think tank regional "expert." His anecdotes and insights are accurate, concise and reasonably centrist. His writing is excellent. And yet he failed to earn 5 stars because the book itself delves too far into specific biographies of pivotal politicos and activists. Shaxson is sharp and experienced enough to produce a country-by-country analytical handbook documenting oil's impact on 21st Century Africa but instead he chose to take the conversational, journalistic feature-article format. For professionals and novices seeking accurate and timely information on Africa, this is a good start. Lutz Kleveman's "New Great Game" was equally readable and informal but a far more informative example for Shaxson to follow in his next book.
Reviews
Of the current crop of "what is wrong with Africa" books including "The Shackled Continent", "The White Man's Burden" and "The Trouble with Africa", Nicholas Shaxson's analysis and prescriptions for change are the most radical and on-the-money. Shaxson's book should be widely read and discussed. Unfortunately, too much invested in the status quo by all concerned to see much likelihood of change within the next few decades.

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