Labour movements or popular struggles in Africa

von Freyhold, Michaela

doi:10.1080/03056248708703730

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Review of African Political Economy

Volume 14, Issue 39

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Labour movements or popular struggles in Africa

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Author(s): Michaela von Freyhold

Publication date (Print): September 1987

Journal: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

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Abstract

In this article von Freyhold considers and evaluates the kind of popular or class struggles capable in the long run of reducing inequality and exploitation. She begins with a critique of dependency theory which, if accurately portraying economic patterns characterising developing countries, remains essentially functional in its assumptions and tied to a model of change based on an inaccurate historical account of the metropolis. The author points to important differences between the experience and position of the working class in the West and its counterparts in other contexts. In particular the fundamental element of racism intruding into the relationship between worker and employer in colonial situations has meant a broader gap between the exploited and controlling elements of society there. This in turn has fostered the emergence of movements and struggles which, as a matter of course, have transcended the boundaries of the working class. It is such forces, suggests von Freyhold, which are likely to make a positive impact in transforming the status quo. The role prescribed for labour is not as an independent force but as a part of a larger and broader initiative.

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Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): crea20

Journal ID (archive): CREA

Title: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

ISSN (Print): 0305-6244

ISSN (Electronic): 1740-1720

Publication date (Print): September 1987

Volume: 14

Issue: 39

Pages: 23-32

Article

Publisher ID: 8703730 Coden ID: Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 14, No. 39, September 1987, pp. 23-32

DOI: 10.1080/03056248708703730

SO-VID: 2a289307-ce70-467e-9705-23f5e869de38

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 29, Pages: 10

Bibliographic note

Brenner Robert. . 1977. . ‘The Origins of Capitalist Development, a Critique of Neo‐Smithian Marxism’. . New Left Review . , Vol. 104: July‐August;
Cardoso F.H.. 1977. . ‘The Consumption of Dependency Theory in the United States,’. . Latin American Research Review . , Vol. 12:
Duvall R.D.. 1978. . ‘Dependence and Dependency Theory: Notes Towards Precision of Concept and Theory’. . International Organizations . , Vol. 32:
Leys Colin. . 1977. . ‘Underdevelopment and Dependency’. . Journal of Contemporary Asia . , Vol. 7:
Nohlen D.. 1980. . ‘Modernization and Dependence, an Outline and Critique of Competing Theories’. . Intereconomics . , Vol. 81:
Philips Anne. . 1977. . ‘The Concept of “Development”’. . ROAPE . , Vol. 8: January‐April;
Arrighi G. and Saul J.. 1973. . Essays on the Political Economy of Africa . , Monthly Review Press. .
Balandier Georges. . 1970. . “‘Messianism and Nationalism in Black Africa,’. ”. In Problems in the History of Colonial Africa, 1860–1960 . Edited by: Collins Robert O.. Englewood Cliffs , New Jersey :
Coleman James S.. 1970. . “‘What is African Nationalism?’. ”. Edited by: Collins R.O..
Elkan Walter. . 1960. . Migrants and Proletarians: Urban Labour in the Economic Development of Uganda . , Oxford University Press. .
Freyhold Michaela v.. “‘On Colonial Methods of Production’. ”. University of Dar es Salaam. .
Iliffe John. . 1970. . ‘A History of the Dockworkers of Dar es Salaam’. . Tanzanian Notes and Records . ,
Iliffe John. . 1973. . “‘The Politicians: Ali Ponda and Hassan Suleiman’. ”. In Modern Tanzanism . Edited by: Iliffe J..
Jeffries Richard. . 1978. . Class, Power and Ideology in Ghana: The Railwaymen of Sekondi .
Onselen Charles van. . 1976. . Chibaro, African Mine Labour in Southern Rhodesia, 1900–1933 .
Pease Adrian. . “‘Towards Nigerian Working Class: the Lagosian Proletariat as Political Elite’. ”. University of Sussex. .
Ranger Terrence. . 1970. . “‘Primary Resistance and Modern Mass Nationalism in East and Central Africa’. ”. Edited by: Collins R.O..
Sandbrook R. and Cohen R.. , eds. 1975. . The Development of an African Working Class .
Saul John. . 1973. . “‘On African Populism’. ”. Edited by: Arrighi and Saul. .
Shivji Issa. . September 19. 1984 . “‘Reawakening of Politics in Africa?’. ”. September 19. , Berkeley : : lecture, University of California, Institute of International Relations. .
Stichter Sharon. . 1975. . “‘The Formation of a Working Class in Kenya’. ”. Edited by: Sandbrook and Cohen. .
Breuer Stefan. . 1977. . Die Drise der Revolutionstheorie .
Engels Frederich. . 1947. . Die Lage der arbeitenden Klasse in England .
Gorz Andre. . 1980. . Abschied vom Proletariat .
Kerr D.. 1964. . Industrialism and Industrial Man: the Problems of Labour and Management of Economic Growth .
Laclau Ernesto. . 1977. . Politics and Ideology in Marxist Theory: Capitalism, Fascism, Populism .
Marx Karl and Engels Friedrich. . 1953. . Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei .
Kothari Rajni. . 1985. . ‘Peace and Human Rights’. . END Journal . , April‐May;
Thompson Edward P.. 1868. . The Making of the English Working Class . Harmondsworth :

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Brenner Robert. . 1977. . ‘The Origins of Capitalist Development, a Critique of Neo‐Smithian Marxism’. . New Left Review . , Vol. 104: July‐August;

[2] Cardoso F.H.. 1977. . ‘The Consumption of Dependency Theory in the United States,’. . Latin American Research Review . , Vol. 12:

[3] Duvall R.D.. 1978. . ‘Dependence and Dependency Theory: Notes Towards Precision of Concept and Theory’. . International Organizations . , Vol. 32:

[4] Leys Colin. . 1977. . ‘Underdevelopment and Dependency’. . Journal of Contemporary Asia . , Vol. 7:

[5] Nohlen D.. 1980. . ‘Modernization and Dependence, an Outline and Critique of Competing Theories’. . Intereconomics . , Vol. 81:

[6] Philips Anne. . 1977. . ‘The Concept of “Development”’. . ROAPE . , Vol. 8: January‐April;

[7] Arrighi G. and Saul J.. 1973. . Essays on the Political Economy of Africa . , Monthly Review Press. .

[8] Balandier Georges. . 1970. . “‘Messianism and Nationalism in Black Africa,’. ”. In Problems in the History of Colonial Africa, 1860–1960 . Edited by: Collins Robert O.. Englewood Cliffs , New Jersey :

[9] Coleman James S.. 1970. . “‘What is African Nationalism?’. ”. Edited by: Collins R.O..

[10] Elkan Walter. . 1960. . Migrants and Proletarians: Urban Labour in the Economic Development of Uganda . , Oxford University Press. .

[11] Freyhold Michaela v.. “‘On Colonial Methods of Production’. ”. University of Dar es Salaam. .

[12] Iliffe John. . 1970. . ‘A History of the Dockworkers of Dar es Salaam’. . Tanzanian Notes and Records . ,

[13] Iliffe John. . 1973. . “‘The Politicians: Ali Ponda and Hassan Suleiman’. ”. In Modern Tanzanism . Edited by: Iliffe J..

[14] Jeffries Richard. . 1978. . Class, Power and Ideology in Ghana: The Railwaymen of Sekondi .

[15] Onselen Charles van. . 1976. . Chibaro, African Mine Labour in Southern Rhodesia, 1900–1933 .

[16] Pease Adrian. . “‘Towards Nigerian Working Class: the Lagosian Proletariat as Political Elite’. ”. University of Sussex. .

[17] Ranger Terrence. . 1970. . “‘Primary Resistance and Modern Mass Nationalism in East and Central Africa’. ”. Edited by: Collins R.O..

[18] Sandbrook R. and Cohen R.. , eds. 1975. . The Development of an African Working Class .

[19] Saul John. . 1973. . “‘On African Populism’. ”. Edited by: Arrighi and Saul. .

[20] Shivji Issa. . September 19. 1984 . “‘Reawakening of Politics in Africa?’. ”. September 19. , Berkeley : : lecture, University of California, Institute of International Relations. .

[21] Stichter Sharon. . 1975. . “‘The Formation of a Working Class in Kenya’. ”. Edited by: Sandbrook and Cohen. .

[22] Breuer Stefan. . 1977. . Die Drise der Revolutionstheorie .

[23] Engels Frederich. . 1947. . Die Lage der arbeitenden Klasse in England .

[24] Gorz Andre. . 1980. . Abschied vom Proletariat .

[25] Kerr D.. 1964. . Industrialism and Industrial Man: the Problems of Labour and Management of Economic Growth .

[26] Laclau Ernesto. . 1977. . Politics and Ideology in Marxist Theory: Capitalism, Fascism, Populism .

[27] Marx Karl and Engels Friedrich. . 1953. . Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei .

[28] Kothari Rajni. . 1985. . ‘Peace and Human Rights’. . END Journal . , April‐May;

[29] Thompson Edward P.. 1868. . The Making of the English Working Class . Harmondsworth :

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