Asante in the nineteenth century: the structure and evolution of a political order

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Book

Title:	Asante in the nineteenth century: the structure and evolution of a political order
Author:	Wilks, Ivor
Year:	1989
Issue:	13
Language:	English
Series:	African studies series (ISSN 0065-406X)
City of publisher:	Cambridge
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISBN:	0521379946
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	history Ashanti polity
Abstract:	This study falls into four distinct but closely related parts. Ch. 1-3 synthesize the extant evidence on the spatial structure and demography of 19th century Asante, relating such factors as communications and relative population size to government. Ch. 4-8 offer an account of the central government's conduct of provincial and foreign affairs. In ch. 9-11 a description is given of the structure of the ruling dynasty, of the two legislative councils and of the major executive agencies. Finally in ch. 12-15 an analysis of the main thrusts of Asante policy is attempted, with reference to the conflict between the imperial ('war') and mercantile ('peace') interests, and to the challenge offered to the pre-eminence of the mercantilists after 1874 by a rising middle class actuated by a belief in laisser-faire principles.