This work investigates the historical and structural impediments to the development of capitalist systems within the African continent. The authors, John Sender and Sheila Mary Smith, utilize extensive economic data and historical analysis to challenge prevailing orthodoxies regarding African underdevelopment. They argue that the failure to foster robust capitalist growth is rooted in specific policy choices, class dynamics, and the integration of African economies into the global market. The text provides a rigorous critique of both colonial legacies and post-independence economic strategies.

Experts in development economics frequently cite this text for its detailed empirical approach and its departure from conventional modernization theories. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of political economy to fully grasp the authors' arguments.