Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness

Kizito Michael George

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12

| Peer-Reviewed

Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness

Kizito Michael George

Published in International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 2 January 2021 Accepted: 22 January 2021 Published: 12 March 2021

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

This paper argues that there is a need to reconstruct a new paradigm for poverty policy planning in Africa because Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism as proposed paradigms for Africa’s development are untenable. This is so because the above trio are sexist, androcentric and oblivious to structural injustices that feminize poverty in Africa. The paper further argues that even in the Western world, the neo-liberal GDP metric has been challenged and the search for alternative development indicators and paradigms is on. In addition, there is a fully fledged post-neo-liberalism movement in Latin America and a de-growth and post-growth social movement in the West against neo-liberalism and its nebulous economic growth understanding of wellbeing. The paper contends that Africa cannot afford to remain aloof to all these developments. There is therefore a need to develop Pan African paradigms to articulate an endogenous perspective to African development. The paper thus advocates for the Dignified Humanness Paradigm (DHP) as an alternative to neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism. The paper also surmises that the actualization of the DHP requires an immediate awakening of the Pan African Moral Consciousness since this will militate on decolonization of the African mind from the amoral neo-liberal economism.

Published in	International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12
Page(s)	43-54
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ubuntu, Neo-liberalism, African Development, Socialism, Dignified Humanness

References

[1]	Humpton, J. (1997). PoliticalPhilosophy. New York: West Review Press.
[2]	Locke, J. (1988). Two Treaties of Civil Government. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 131.
[3]	Guido De Ruggiero, (1966). The Historyof European Liberalism. Boston: Beacon Press.
[4]	Richardson, J. (2001). Contending Liberalisms in World Politics. London: Lynn Reinner Publisher.
[5]	Horton, E. S. (2007). Neo-liberalism and the Australian Healthcare System (Factory). In Proceedings 200 Conference of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia, Wellington, New Zealand. Retrieved August 21, 2020, from http://eprints.qut.edu.au/14444, on 21-12-2020.
[6]	Mamdani, M. (2007). Scholars in the Marketplace: The Dilemmas of Neo-Liberal Reform at Makerere University, 1989-2005. Kampala: Fountain Publishers. pp. 3, 30, 31, 70, 111, 142.
[7]	Gudynas, E. (2012). BuenVivir: Today’s Tomorrow. Development, 54 (4), 441-447. Doi: 10.1057/dev.2011.86.
[8]	Friedland, (1964). African Socialism. California: Stanford University Press. p. 5.
[9]	Brockway, F. (1963). African Socialism. Baltimore: Penguin. p. 32.
[10]	Nkrumah, K. (1980). Consciencism. New York: International Publishers.
[11]	Wooten, A. (1990). ‘On the "Not Necessarily Atheist" Nature of Kwame Nkrumah's Philosophical Consciencism’, The Howard University Journal of Philosophy, vol. 1, no. 1, Summer/Fall, p. 49, 52, 54.
[12]	Novack, G. (1965). The Origins of Materialism. New York: Pathfinder Press. p. 6 & 108.
[13]	Mazrui, A. (2001). Globalization: Origins and Scope, University of Georgia Series on Globalization and Global Understanding Georgia, The Center for Humanities and Arts and The Center for International Trade and Security, Georgia, October.
[14]	Mazrui A, (2005), The Mazruiana Collection Revisited: Ali Mazurui Debating the African Condition: An annoted and select thematic bibliography 1961-2003, The African Institute of south Africa and The new Dawn Press.
[15]	Louw, D. J. (2001). Ubuntu and the challenges of multiculturalism in post-apartheid South Africa, Quest: An African Journal of Philosophy, XV (1-2), 15-36.
[16]	Mkhize, N. (2008). Ubuntu and harmony: an African Approach to Morality and Ethics, in Nicolson, R. (ed.). Persons in community: African ethics in a global culture. Scottsville: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press. p. 40.
[17]	Senghor, Sedar Leopold (1969), Negritude, Seuil. p. 49.
[18]	Gyekye, K. (1997). Tradition and Modernity: Philosophical Reflections on the African Experience. USA: Oxford University Press. pp. 35, 40 & 43.
[19]	Sono, T. (1994). Dilemmas of African intellectuals in South Africa. Pretoria: Unisa Press.pp.xiii, xv, 7, 11, 17.
[20]	Scott, S. (2014). Martin Buber (1878-1965), Retrieved August 24, 2020, from, http://www.iep.utm.edu/buber/.
[21]	Tutu, D. (2004). God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time, New York: Doubleday Publishers.
[22]	Mbiti, J. S. (1970). Concepts of God in Africa. London: SPCK. p. 141.
[23]	Weil, S. (1973). First and Last Notebooks. New York: Oxford University Press. In Chuwa, L. (2014). African Indigenous Ethics in Global Bio-Ethics. USA: Springer. p. 182.
[24]	Bhengu, M. Ubuntu as an African Metaphysics in Economic Transformation Processes: East African Economic Community Region, Paper Presented at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Regional Conference on Global Discourse on Development, Growth and the Power of GDP- an African Perspective, 21^st -23^rd August, 2014. p. 3.
[25]	Tamale, S. (2001). Gender and Affirmative action in Post-1995 Uganda: A New Dispensation, or Business as Usual, in Oloka-Onyango, J. (ed). Constitutionalism in Africa, Creating Opportunities, Facing Challenges. Kampala: Fountain Publishers.
[26]	Sally, M. (2010). Post Development Theory and the Question of Alternatives: A view from Africa. Third World Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 2. p. 377.
[27]	Heinricht-Böll-Stiftung, (2014). Africa Rising – Who Benefits from the Continent’s Economic Growth? Perspectives Africa (1/2014), Regional Offices Sothern Africa.
[28]	Morten, J. (2013). Poor Numbers: How we are Misled by Africa’s Development Statistics and What to do about it. New York: Cornell University Press.
[29]	UNCDAT (2012). Economic Development in Africa Report- Structural Transformation and Sustainable Development in Africa, Retrieved August 24, 2020, from, http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/aldcafrica2012_en.pdf.
[30]	Jolly, R. (2003). Human Development and Neo-liberalism: Paradigms Compared. In. Fakuda-Parr & Shiva Kumar, (ed). Readings in Human Development. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 108.
[31]	Wichterich, C. (2014). Occupy Development- Towards a Caring Economy, Development, 56 (3), 346-349. doi: 10.1057/dev.2014.12.
[32]	Chancel, L. (et al). (2014). Beyond GDP indicators, to what end? Iddri Study04/14, Paris. p. 1.
[33]	Ura, K. (et al). (2012). A Short Guide to Gross National Hapiness Index, Thimpu: Centre for Bhutan Studies, Retrieved August 23, 2020, from, www.grossnationalhapiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Short-GNH-Index-edited.pdf.
[34]	Centre for Bhutan Studies, (2014), Bhutan Gross National Happiness Index, Retrieved August 22, 2020, from www.grossnationalhapiness.com/articles.
[35]	Fioramonti, L. (2013). Gross Domestic Problem: The Politics Behind the World’s Most Powerful Number. London: Zed books.
[36]	Adebayo, A. (1982). Development and economic Growth in Africa to the year 2000, African Centre for Development and Strategic Studies. p. 1.
[37]	Skirbekk, G. and Nils, G. (2001). A History of Western Philosophy. London and New York: Routledge.
[38]	Fanon, F. (2004). The Wretched of the Earth. Translated by Richard Phicox. USA: Library of Congress. pp. 5, 64 & 235.
[39]	Mbiti, J. S. (1989). African religions and Philosophy. 2^nd Edition. London: Heinemann. p. 141.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Kizito Michael George. (2021). Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 9(2), 43-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Kizito Michael George. Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2021, 9(2), 43-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Kizito Michael George. Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2021;9(2):43-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12,
  author = {Kizito Michael George},
  title = {Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {43-54},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20211002.12},
  abstract = {This paper argues that there is a need to reconstruct a new paradigm for poverty policy planning in Africa because Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism as proposed paradigms for Africa’s development are untenable. This is so because the above trio are sexist, androcentric and oblivious to structural injustices that feminize poverty in Africa. The paper further argues that even in the Western world, the neo-liberal GDP metric has been challenged and the search for alternative development indicators and paradigms is on. In addition, there is a fully fledged post-neo-liberalism movement in Latin America and a de-growth and post-growth social movement in the West against neo-liberalism and its nebulous economic growth understanding of wellbeing. The paper contends that Africa cannot afford to remain aloof to all these developments. There is therefore a need to develop Pan African paradigms to articulate an endogenous perspective to African development. The paper thus advocates for the Dignified Humanness Paradigm (DHP) as an alternative to neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism. The paper also surmises that the actualization of the DHP requires an immediate awakening of the Pan African Moral Consciousness since this will militate on decolonization of the African mind from the amoral neo-liberal economism.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness
AU  - Kizito Michael George
Y1  - 2021/03/12
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12
T2  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP  - 43
EP  - 54
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7420
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12
AB  - This paper argues that there is a need to reconstruct a new paradigm for poverty policy planning in Africa because Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism as proposed paradigms for Africa’s development are untenable. This is so because the above trio are sexist, androcentric and oblivious to structural injustices that feminize poverty in Africa. The paper further argues that even in the Western world, the neo-liberal GDP metric has been challenged and the search for alternative development indicators and paradigms is on. In addition, there is a fully fledged post-neo-liberalism movement in Latin America and a de-growth and post-growth social movement in the West against neo-liberalism and its nebulous economic growth understanding of wellbeing. The paper contends that Africa cannot afford to remain aloof to all these developments. There is therefore a need to develop Pan African paradigms to articulate an endogenous perspective to African development. The paper thus advocates for the Dignified Humanness Paradigm (DHP) as an alternative to neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism. The paper also surmises that the actualization of the DHP requires an immediate awakening of the Pan African Moral Consciousness since this will militate on decolonization of the African mind from the amoral neo-liberal economism.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Kizito Michael George

Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Kizito Michael George. (2021). Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 9(2), 43-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Kizito Michael George. Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2021, 9(2), 43-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Kizito Michael George. Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2021;9(2):43-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12,
  author = {Kizito Michael George},
  title = {Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {43-54},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20211002.12},
  abstract = {This paper argues that there is a need to reconstruct a new paradigm for poverty policy planning in Africa because Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism as proposed paradigms for Africa’s development are untenable. This is so because the above trio are sexist, androcentric and oblivious to structural injustices that feminize poverty in Africa. The paper further argues that even in the Western world, the neo-liberal GDP metric has been challenged and the search for alternative development indicators and paradigms is on. In addition, there is a fully fledged post-neo-liberalism movement in Latin America and a de-growth and post-growth social movement in the West against neo-liberalism and its nebulous economic growth understanding of wellbeing. The paper contends that Africa cannot afford to remain aloof to all these developments. There is therefore a need to develop Pan African paradigms to articulate an endogenous perspective to African development. The paper thus advocates for the Dignified Humanness Paradigm (DHP) as an alternative to neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism. The paper also surmises that the actualization of the DHP requires an immediate awakening of the Pan African Moral Consciousness since this will militate on decolonization of the African mind from the amoral neo-liberal economism.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Deconstructing African Development from Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu Ethics and African Socialism to Dignified Humanness
AU  - Kizito Michael George
Y1  - 2021/03/12
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12
T2  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP  - 43
EP  - 54
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7420
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20211002.12
AB  - This paper argues that there is a need to reconstruct a new paradigm for poverty policy planning in Africa because Neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism as proposed paradigms for Africa’s development are untenable. This is so because the above trio are sexist, androcentric and oblivious to structural injustices that feminize poverty in Africa. The paper further argues that even in the Western world, the neo-liberal GDP metric has been challenged and the search for alternative development indicators and paradigms is on. In addition, there is a fully fledged post-neo-liberalism movement in Latin America and a de-growth and post-growth social movement in the West against neo-liberalism and its nebulous economic growth understanding of wellbeing. The paper contends that Africa cannot afford to remain aloof to all these developments. There is therefore a need to develop Pan African paradigms to articulate an endogenous perspective to African development. The paper thus advocates for the Dignified Humanness Paradigm (DHP) as an alternative to neo-liberalism, Ubuntu ethics and African Socialism. The paper also surmises that the actualization of the DHP requires an immediate awakening of the Pan African Moral Consciousness since this will militate on decolonization of the African mind from the amoral neo-liberal economism.
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download