Foreword; R.W.Hull Introduction; O.Onyejekwe Preface Acknowledgements Africa's Recent Colonial Past, 1900s-1960s Africa's Armed Forces in Retrospect: The History of the Colonial and Post-Colonial Forces Corrupt and Dictatorial Tendencies: The Tacit Invitation for Military Intervention Military Leaders-Turned Civilian Rulers Military Presence in African Politics: Stability or Instability? African Coups Galore: Foreign and Ideological Influences African Coups in Political and Theoretical Contexts Conclusion Bibliography Index