Confronting imperialism and neoliberalism

Issa G. Shivji, a renowned scholar and a pan-Africanist, in his book 'Where is Uhuru? Reflections on the Struggle for Democracy in Africa' interrogates the meaning of independence in light of the fact that the socio-economic and political strands in Africa do not show any true signs of it. Edited by Godwin Murunga, the book is divided into six parts with a total of 18 chapters. The book is a collection of conference papers, lectures and articles composed between 1991 and 2006. In such a wide range of years, Shivji eloquently expresses his thoughts on the evils of imperialism and neoliberalism. He discusses pertinent issues concerning ‘independent’ African states, such as constitutional challenges, land disputes, human rights and democracy, as well as the contribution of intellectuals in the struggle against imperialism and neoliberal policies.

Starting with the nationalist movement to neoliberalism (in 'Part 1 Contested Terrain of Democratic Politics', which comprises chapters 1–4), Shivji manages to show the link between the two and negotiates the position of globalisation as imperialism. In well-thought chapters, Shivji demonstrates the challenges which post-independence African leaders who were socialists faced in the process of confronting capitalism. He points out the consequences of ‘surrogate’ regimes in Africa, which were created by an imperial United States of America and its compradors. In the process of imperialism's expansion, some elected leaders were overthrown or assassinated with the assistance of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other imperial forces. In such a scenario, Shivji shows clearly the challenges of confronting a dominant, oppressive system out of a pan-Africanism synergy.

Analysing pertinent issues in law and the constitution (in 'Part 2 The State of the Debate on Constitutionalism', which comprises chapters 5–8), Shivji shows the challenges of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Indeed, the arguments which Shivji gave in 2001 become even more valid today when the issue of the Tanganyika and Zanzibar union is up for discussion and perhaps in a more fragile situation than ever before. Looking at it from the historical and legal perspectives, he shows clearly how formal and lawful the union is, though not democratic. In conclusion, Shivji sees federalism as the alterative to this precarious union.

On the challenges of land ownership, Shivji uses 'Part 3 Land: A Terrain of Democratic Struggles' (chapters 9–11), to explicate the scenario. What comes out articulately in this part is the historical approach to the challenges of land ownership in Tanzania from the colonial period, the Arusha Declaration’s Vijiji vya Ujamaa (villagisation) to the era of investors and the free market. The consequences of the inherited laws according to Shivji bring to the fore the current challenges of managing natural resources.

'Part 4 Intellectuals, Biographies and Reminiscences' (comprising chapters 12–15) is one of the most intriguing parts of the book. For example, Chapter 14 discusses the concept of development coined by Edward Moringe Sokoine, Tanzania’s former prime minister. According to Sokoine, it is the development centred on the harnessed cultures of the people, or development from below. Moreover, Shivji regards Sokoine as one of the very few Tanzanian leaders who understood by heart the meaning of people-centred development and how to attain it.

'Part Five' of the book, 'Pan-Africanism or Imperialism?' (containing chapters 16–17), brings on board the whole issue of pan-Africanism and its contemporaneity. Perhaps Shivji is among few scholars who can comfortably argue for the need of pan-Africanism to fight against imperialism. Both chapters show clearly how imperial, manufactured projects such as NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) would scarcely help Africa and would continue to endanger economic independences. It is in chapter 17 where Shivji shows the challenges of globalisation, especially its role as an agent for militarisation. In the last chapter, chapter 18, Shivji calls for intellectuals to lead the way in providing an alternative world view to neoliberalism as 'neoliberalism has utterly failed to provide such a world view' (p. 227).

What makes Shivji’s book more interesting is the approach to the issues and use of language. Such language adds flavour to understanding the key concepts. For example, he uses the term ‘surrogate government’ to describe the kind of governments like that of Mobutu Sese Seko in the former Zaire, which was imposed by the imperialists. He further describes the international community as a US-led imperial block (p. 56). To make things clear, he defines globalisation as imperialism and uses imperialism to include and mean globalisation (p. 196). The phrase ‘flying our flag’ is used to challenge the concept of independence, being a flag rather than economic independence (p. 196).

Reading Shivji’s arguments on imperialism, neoliberalism and the international financial institutions’ dictatorship, it is interesting to note that he partially discusses the role of culture, especially the arts in the struggle for nationalism, socialism and democracy in Africa. It could be interesting to link Shivji’s discussion on imperialism and neoliberalism with culture, as it is widely accepted that imperialism has produced cultural imperialism and perhaps neoliberalism could have produced cultural (neo)liberalism.

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* Issa G. Shivji's 'Where is Uhuru? Reflections on the Struggle for Democracy in Africa' is available from Pambazuka Press (Cape Town, Dakar, Nairobi and Oxford, Pambazuka Press, 2007, pp. vi + 246, paperback + free pdf - £16.95, Adobe pdf - £12.95).
* Vicensia Shule is a performing artist working at the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.