<DIV><DIV><DIV><P>In this book, Patrick Chabal&nbsp; discusses the limitations of existing political theories of Africa and proposes a different starting point; arguing that political thinking ought to be driven by the need to address the immediacy of everyday life and death.&nbsp; How do people define who they are?&nbsp; Where do they belong?&nbsp; What do they believe?&nbsp; How do they struggle to survive and improve their lives?&nbsp; What is the impact of illness and poverty?&nbsp; In doing so, Chabal proposes a radically different way of looking at politics in Africa and illuminates the ways ordinary people "suffer and smile." This is a highly original addition to Zed's groundbreaking Global Political Theories series.</P></DIV>