State development in Africa is risky, even life-threatening. Heads of state must weigh the advantage of promoting political and economic development against the

This book models the trade-off that rulers of weak, ethnically-divided states face between coups and civil war. Drawing evidence from extensive field research i

In this lively and provocative book, Erica De Bruin looks at the threats that rulers face from their own armed forces. Can they make their regimes impervious to

Using extensive research, this book argues that successful African leaders consolidate their rule by developing strategic rural coalitions.