Book excerpt: "Despite the myth of marginality and irrelevance, Africa has always been inextricably linked to the global stage and has long played an important - often-vital - role in international politics. Critically analyzing the modalities of governance in large parts of Africa, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the continent's international relations, arguing that contra to the notion that Africa is a passive bystander to global processes, its elites have generally proven themselves excellent arch-manipulators of the international system. Chapters on American, British, French, Chinese, Indian and European interactions with the continent engage with chapters on the role of the World Bank and IMF and the "new" scramble for Africa's oil to explain such processes." --Book Jacket.