Historical dictionary of The Gambia
"The Gambia achieved independence from Great Britain on 18 February 1965. Despite its small size and population, it was able to establish itself as a functioning parliamentary democracy, a status it retained for nearly 30 years. The Gambia thus avoided the common fate of other African countries, which soon fell under authoritarian single-party rule or experienced military coups. In addition, its enviable political stability, together with modest economic success, enabled it to avoid remaining under British domination or being absorbed by its larger French-speaking neighbor, Senegal. It was also able to defeat an attempted coup d'etat in July 1981, but, ironically, when other African states were returning to democratic government, Gambian democracy finally succumbed to a military coup on 22 July 1994. Since then, the democracy has not been restored, nor has the military successor government been able to meet the country's economic and social needs." "This fourth edition of Historical Dictionary of The Gambia - through its chronology, introductory essay, appendixes, map, bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on important people, places, events, institutions, and significant political, economic, social, and cultural aspects - provides an important references on this burgeoning African country."--BOOK JACKET
Print Book, English, 2008
4th ed
Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Md., 2008