Rocco W. Ronza (2024) L’Africa australe. Il Sudafrica e i suoi vicini. Bologna: Il Mulino

This review examines Rocco W. Ronza’s L’Africa australe. Il Sudafrica e i suoi vicini (2024), a comprehensive introduction to the historical, political, economic, and social dynamics of Southern Africa. The book analyses South Africa’s regional role alongside the trajectories of neighbouring states, highlighting the legacies of colonialism, state-building processes, economic interdependence, and contemporary geopolitical challenges. By combining historical reconstruction with a broad regional perspective, Ronza offers an accessible yet rigorous account of one of the most strategically significant regions of the African continent. The review discusses the volume’s main arguments, methodological approach, and contribution to the study of Southern Africa and contemporary African affairs.