There is a general consensus that Africa entered the 21st century plagued by multifaceted crises of underdevelopment. This is evidenced by abject poverty, the inadequacy of basic human needs, environmental degradation and violent civil conflicts. George Klay Kieh Jr argues that in order to reverse the negative effects of Africa's peripheral status the neo-colonial state must be democratically reconstituted. Once this has happened the foundations can be laid for government policies that address and fulfil basic human needs.
