An interesting sociological study of Sierra Leone in the midst of its civil wars aiming to rebut the New Barbarism in Africa thesis by Kaplan. They are not reverting to savagery, as Malthus predicted but they are reacting rationally to mistakes made by politicians. Population is not out of control, the forests were cut down years ago but the political culture of patrimony, has left whole areas poor and hopeless. The true functions of the state were done through patronage, often invisibly, funded by 'corruption', aid agencies being used to supply the appearance. of the visible state. ( )