"Africa's Armies"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses anthropologist, Robert B. Edgerton's "Africa's Armies From Honor to Infamy - a History From 1791 to the Present". The author of the paper summarizes the book and critiques Edgerton's lack of definition. The author also states that the book is lacking in-depth analysis of how and why African is infamous today. The paper suggests that a closer analysis of what is going on in Africa to what is going on in similar nations and regions across the world today and an explanation of how the hardships that Africa endure today related to the civil strife and militia would be beneficial for Edgerton's book.

From the Paper:

"After this however, there is not enough discourse to figure out why Edgerton looks so critically on the armies and rebels of Africa today. He does mention and review the civil strife taking place in Africa, which most people and many anthropologists are aware of and have studied closely. However, this would not help the reader that is unfamiliar with present-day Africa understand why the army today should be considered anything but courageous. True, the average reader would acknowledge that the people of Africa endure much in the way of hardships today. However, how are these hardships related to the civil strife and militia? It is this point that is unclear. Edgerton provides more of a subjective review of what he feels is going on and provides a few factual details to support this, but provides little in the way of detail and real conjecture, which would help the average person discern what steps the people of Africa should take to liberate themselves from the grasps of the army or militia today."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Shaw, Bryant. "Africa's Armies: From Honor to Infamy", Air and Space Power Journal, Summer 2005. USAF, Troy University, 17, December 2007: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NXL/is_2_19/ai_n15345180
• Edgerton, Robert B. AFRICA'S ARMIES: From Honor to Infamy - a History From 1791 to the Present; Boulder, (Colorado): Westview Press/ Perseus Books Group, 2002; ISBN: 0-8133-3947-2

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