Socialism and African Development

PIA 2574

Socialism in Africa

At Issue: new look at development strategy

the role that ideology has played in effecting performance of state

(self-ascribed ideology)

The Socialist Framework

.Dependency as an alternative form of analysis to Modernization

Influence of socialist ideas since 1965

in Africa

Tanzania’s Ujamaa Policy

President Julius Nyerere

Arusha Declaration: 1967: Socialist Declaration- Control Commanding Heights

Collectivism and Self-Reliance

An approach to agricultural class formation

The 1960s-Voluntary Collective Farms

Goal: create villages from small family households

Self-sustaining economic units of 20-30 families

Primary target- the subsistence farmer

1968- official policy but voluntary

1970s

Goal: Prevention of a rural proletariat

1970- Few villages established

Government Spending only on “ujamaa villages”

Popular Response- poorest areas of the country marginal farming/pastoral areas

After 1973

Targets the wealthier areas and the rich farmers

“Kulaks”

1975

Forced Collectivization and Collapse of Policy

Problems with Ujamaa

Tanzaphilia- “Socialism and the Field Administrator”

Shift from voluntary to compulsory: “Burning Houses”

Shift from goal of local level decision-making and village autonomy to centralized decision-making and standardized policies

Problems:

Collectivization Forced, use of state violence

Villages became very large: 300-500 people or more

Target: Universal villagization by the end of 1976

Resistance from Wealthy Farmers

Government Reaction

Withdrawal

Drought, Agricultural Mismanagement

Agricultural Collapse

1983- Tanzania Moves Towards Policy Reform

Regime Types in Africa (Crawford Young)

1. African (Socialist) and mixed Economy regimes: pragmatism or African capitalism (Kenya and Senegal in 1960s)

2. Socialist- Populist (Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique in 1970s)

African Regimes

3. Afro-Marxist or Leninist Vanguard regimes (Angola, Benine1980s)

4. Marxist-Leninist- (Ethiopia under Dergue)

5.Post-Structural Adjustment Regimes Mozambique, Uganda and Ghana (1990s)

Attractiveness of an ideology

Impact of Policy on development in the 1980s

Will effect rule making and resource allocation

Ideology does make a difference

Attractiveness of an ideology

There is a measure of internal slack or decision-making authority

A choice that can be made (in terms of dependency) that can be made internally

Thus Socialist Policies can be tested

Evaluation criteria-

Five measures re. Socialism (1965-1985)

Growth

1. Growth is still important- though downplays mineral induced growth and tourism

2. Focus is on peasant based subsistence agriculture rather than export commercial agriculture

Result

Import Substitution, inflation and decline of food production

Equity or distribution: Effects

1. Effect of taxation- especially indirect tax mechanisms (extractive)

2. Pricing policies deflate income for agricultural commodities

3. Relocation of rural resources to urban areas

4. Wage control policies (no strike clauses)

Autonomy and self-reliance-

1. Delinkage from the international economy (Autarky)

2. Increased debt burden, continued use of expatriate personnel as planners (often sympathetic)

2. Exploitation of natural resources and foreign exchange outflow

Exploitation of Human Rights

1. Goal- human dignity

2. Reality of repression- movement of peoples

3. Economic and political refugees

4. Increased size of security forces

Development capacity: Goals and Results

1. Ability to plan and manage state resources and stimulate economic behavior change

2. Expansion of the social capacity of the state

3. The African disaster- Tyrants, corruption and Skimmed public resources

Socialism

Why has it Failed?

Discussion

What have you been reading lately?

What should others read?