The view that Africa regressed the moment that colonial governments left its shores is widespread. This volume is a counterpoint to the orthodoxy. Here 13 scholars with specializations ranging from literature and history to philosophy and economics argue that Africa has advanced since colonialism and is poised to march forward in spite of setbacks and disappointments. The contributors to the book contend that development is about human beings, so they do not rely exclusively on statistical estimates and projections.

"Afro-Optimism" is a book with a simple thesis: Africa is marching forward, even if at times haltingly and at a different pace from the rest of the world. A common view among journalists and academics alike is that African conditions declined the moment colonial governments left its shores. The chapters in this book cover Africa's progress in health, agriculture, transportation, cultural innovation, and economic advancement. The contributors to the book contend that development is about human beings, so they do not rely exclusively on statistical estimates and projections.

The essays in this book discuss the advances African states have made in spite of, and at times because of, their experiences of European colonial rule. The contributors argue that in all facets of development, Africans had to overcome colonial obstacles or had to build on meager colonial foundations. Although the authors acknowledge Africa's disappointing performance in various respects, they stress throughout that exclusive concentration on African failures creates new and reinforces existing negative perceptions of contemporary Africa.

This book explores the concept of cultural chauvinism as the sense of superiority that ethnic or national groups have of themselves relative to others, particularly in the context of international relations. Minabere Ibelema shows the various ways that academics, statesmen, and especially journalists, express their cultural groups' sense of superiority over others. The analysis pivots around the notion of "Western values" given its centrality in international relations and diplomacy. To the West, this stands for an array of largely positive political and civic values; to a significant portion of the global community, it embodies degeneracies. Ibelema argues that often the most routine expressions go under the radar, even in this age of hypersensitivity. This book throws a unique light on global relations and will be of particular interest to scholars in international relations, communication studies and journalism studies.

Books on mass media and society are often too elementary or too academic for upper-level undergraduate students. This anthology occupies the middle ground: The articles are both scholarly and readable. They represent various methodological approaches, including historical and critical/cultural studies, as well as qualitative and quantitative analyses. What the articles have in common is that they provide scholarly insight without overly specialized vocabulary. In effect, the volume is intended to be accessible to upper-level undergraduates, while also providing cutting-edge scholarship for graduate students and scholars. A number of intertwined themes link the articles. The most important is the far-reaching impact of the libertarian philosophy on the development of the mass media-and the latter's intersection with cultural transformation. The second is the transactional nature of mass media and society, with the two institutions interlocked in a loop of mutual impact. Closely related is the impact of communication technology, from Gutenberg's printing press in the 15th century to the digital technology of the 21st century. The book also includes a summary of the major theories of mass communication.