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"After more than 20 years of civil war, Angola now finds itself in a period of reconstruction and faces numerous social and political challenges. This article finds that not only the sharp rise in the price of oil but also an increase in production, which has doubled since 2002, have hugely benefited the Angolan government. As a result, macroeconomic performance has improved dramatically, with double-digit growth rates and a drastically reduced debt burden. The ruling party's hegemony has become more entrenched and political stability has increased significantly. Internationally, Angola does not engage in pronounced 'petrodiplomacy', but it has become a highly attractive partner in international politics, particularly for China. This has reduced Western influence in the country to some extent. However, the country's future prospects are far from brilliant: The Angolan economy remains highly dependent an oil and is extremely vulnerable to price shocks. Ordinary Angolans still frequently live in abject poverty. The government's hegemony is not easily reconciled with liberal democracy. Patronage and outright corruption remain rampant at all levels. If the oil price drops sharply or Angola runs out of oil, the country may face serious problems." (publisher's description)