We Cannot Continue Like This

Book excerpt: We Cannot Continue Like This: Facing Modernity in Africa and the West is a scholarly book strongly focused on the context of Africa, with two chapters that are written by authors from the Netherlands for the purpose of a North-South dialogue. The main thesis of the book is based on the insight that the trajectory of modern development ought not to continue as it is. It is ecologically unsustainable and continues to enlarge the gap between rich and poor. The book centers on an academic analysis of current development practices, mostly in Africa. It addresses four topics that are often neglected in studies on development and sustainability: listening to voices from Africa to counter the hegemony of the Global North; recognizing the importance of spiritual issues in the secular affairs of society; deriving theory from data that was obtained and analyzed in a systematic way, and was compared with existing theories; and illustrating the importance of households rather than just governments, businesses or academic institutions. The manuscript seeks to integrate academic reflection and insights gained from practical involvement with sustainability issues in local communities and low-income households, with contributions from natural and social sciences and theology. The authors respond to the question: How can modern science and technology help to solve dilemmas such as unsustainable development?