André Lux

Roderic Beaujot. Population Change in Canada. The Challenges of Policy Adaptation. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1991, pp. 379.

Considering that gerontology must study elderly persons within the wider context of societys dynamic processes, as well as with a view of policy responses, this book by Beaujot is to be recommended. Demographic processes underlying the growth of the Third Age in Canada are presented in a clear, non-technical way and their policy consequences are analysed thoroughly. All the chapters are of interest to gerontologists, but particularly chapter 2 on health and mortality, chapter 7 on aging, parts of chapter 6 dealing with an aging workforce, and of chapter 8 which is devoted to the aging of households, not to mention chapter 4 on migration, which is often considered a solution to fertility decline and aging. On most subjects differing points of view are given their fair share, and the author presents his own views and policy options.

Les travailleurs ruraux du Mayombe, ébauche d'une classe sociale?

ABSTRACTIn the Mayombe district as well as in other rural parts of the Zaire Republic, there exists a rural proletariat consisting of factory and plantation workers with a high degree of integration in the wage economy. A process of widening social differentiation can be observed between these workers and the surrounding village communities, by way of ambiguous solidarity behavior related to opposing interests, which they become increasingly conscious of. Can such a strata of rural workers be considered as an emerging social class? In order to answer this question one must analyse these workers in the larger nation-wide context. Here, the dominant feature is one of a very profound remoulding of the post-colonial national society with quite a few new strata and quasi-classes likely to emerge. In this context, rural worker-peasant relations are continuously moving between alliances and conflicts, the result of which, in the longer run, may well depend on the role and policy of the national unions in a situa...

Book Reviews : Ann Seidman, An Economics Textbookfor Africa. London, Methuen & Co., 1969, pp. xiv, 327

can be excused a highly simplified explanation of the causes of late nineteenth century imperialism, they cannot be permitted to escape criticism for their pages retailing the political and economic effects in Europe of the eighteenth century slave trade: these are simply ludicrous. Such distortions are reminders that if commitment to the serious study of African history is accompanied by neglect of its non-African context the development of an accurate perspective will be rendered impossible. There is nothing new about the approach of Mr. Nutting in his study of Scramble For Africa nor, as far as one can judge in the complete absence of references, has an impressive list of primary sources consulted provided much in the way of new evidence. Although promising to examine the partition of Africa Mr. Nutting confines his account, for all practical purposes, to Southern Africa in the years betwecn the Great Trek and the Boer War. Apart from a somewhat

Book Reviews : Jacques Freyssinet, Le concept de sous-developpement, Paris, Mouton 1966, xv + 368 p

of contradictions in Nycrere’s political thought for example, between African uniqueness and universalism, between traditional communalism and modern socialism, between the one party system and classic political democracy. And it may be properly averred that he has romanticized the nature of African indigenous life. But these criticisms are minutiae when one appreciates how effectively the political man has wedded principles to purpose and idealism to action. The implementation of pure political theory one without contradictions can only lead to a dogmatic and inflexible approach to the resolution of real problems. This Nyerere has tried to avoid. Finally, the book suggests that Nyerere has shared Browning’s admonition that man must always reach beyond his immediate grasp and he has done this within the context of a sophisticated sense of realism. What more can be asked of any man?