Modernization in Ghana and the U.S.S.R.: A Comparative Study

First published in 1969, Modernization in Ghana and the U.S.S.R. examines the aspects of politics of modernization in two states―the U.S.S.R. and Ghana. One of the major contentions of the volume is that they faced a variety of similar problems and their responses to these had a great deal in common. The most obvious similarity between the two was the single-party state with a relatively high degree of control exercised by the party leadership over the party. There are also many similarities concerning attitudes to economic development and the outside world.

The problem that most concerned the new leaders of Ghana and Russia was that of economic development. Political priorities were assessed in the light or by the standard of systems of ideas, of ideologies. The overall thesis of the book is that although Marxism-Leninism and Nkrumaism differ greatly, the leaders of the two countries in fact behaved in a remarkably similar fashion, and the author shows that their responses had as much to do with similar problems as with ideological patterns. This book is a must read for students and researchers of comparative politics.

Robert E. Dowse, Department of Government, University of Exeter, UK.