P. O. Pedersen: Small African towns, between rural networks and urban hierachies. Aldershot, Avebury, 1997. XIII, 220 s., 23 cm.

For more than 10 years, a group of researchers led by Poul Ove Pedersen at the Centre for Development Research in Copenhagen has been studying the role and nature of small enterprises in development, principally in Africa but also in Bangladesh. Given the dearth of research on small towns in developing countries, one of the aims of the group has been to redress this imbalance by focussing on small enterprises in small rural towns. This work has resulted in several PhD theses and articles but 'Small African Towns' brings together many of the findings within one cover. - Following an introductory chapter, the changing way in which small towns have been perceived is presented and trends in the growth of small towns in eastern and southern Africa outlined. The following chapter entitled 'A small-enterprise theory of small-town development', includes an analysis of the nature of enterprise networks, hierarchies of enterprises, enterprises and the household, and enterprises and the urban system. The bulk of the book, which is divided into 7 further chapters, focuses on small enterprises (including retail and wholesale tråde, agricultural processing and marketing, the clothing sector, and the building sector) mainly in the Zimbabwean towns of Gutu and Gokwe. In the final chapter, the nature of small enterprise strategies is summarised and possible strategies for small-town development åre presented. - As Pedersen argues, small towns play an important but often ignored role in the development process and his book clearly illustrates this. However, although he is correct in arguing that there has been a lack of research on small enterprises in small towns, I do not agree with some of the reasons given. It can be argued that the lack of academic interest has been as much for practical as theoretical reasons, and in the late 1990s it is no longer the case that most development theories åre 'aspatial and dichotomous'. Most development theorists today focus on the complexity and diversity of the development process. Although it is rather unusual that several people's work åre presented by one author, the book is well written and clearly illustrated with tables, maps and diagrams, however, sadly there åre no photographs. - Given that the strength of the book is a detailed account of small enterprises in two urban centres in Zimbabwe, the title is rather misleading. Anyone

searchmg for an account of 'Small Afncan Towns' in all the richness and diversity of their economies, societies and/or politics will be disappointed. Furthermore, the subheading 'between rural networks and urban hierarchies' is rather puzzling. Surely small African towns åre part of the urban hierarchy and åre affected by networks which cross the urban/rural di vide hence cannot be 'between' the two? There is no doubt, though, that this is a carefully researched book, which will be welcomed by Africanists, in particular those working on Zimbabwe, interested in urban and/or economic growth. I would expect the book to be soon, if it is not already, adorning the shelves of many libraries.