of the specific expression of capitalism in the scandinavia states, as well as
the origins of the welfare state in capitalism in general.
It took a world wide chronic crisis of capitalism, producing two world wars and
provoking revolutions in Russia and parts of eastern europe [before the 2nd
world war & the iron curtain], and the threat of socialist revolutions in
mainstream europe itself, for keynesianism, which hitherto had been on the
fringe of capitalist political and economic discourse to become accepted as
mainstream and become the basis of social engineering of the post world war 2
years, to mitigate the crisis of capitalism, and reduce the risk of revolution.
And it succeeded, thanks largely to the opening up of the colonial possessions
for rapacious capitalist expansion and which helped to finance the welfare state
in europe.
It is the structures laid down in that period to underpin restored capitalist
growth, improve conditions of living and stave off revolution that is still
holding Africa and much of the former colonial possessions captive till this
day.
It is the internal resistance and manouvrings of new nationalist elites from the
former colonies within the sysytem that is generating the momentum for tinkering
with and restructuring, however minimally, the current global architecture of
capitalism; hence the gradual replacement and eventaul surplanting of the G7,
then G 8 by the G 20.
Afterall the world's population has increased tremendously, and there are many
more 'countries' and states now than there were post war; so their is a little
bit more room at the apex of the capitalist pyramid to jostle. Like every
ecosystem, the capitalist system has its carrying capacity for successful,
dominant, and dominating countries and peoples.
Regards,
Jaye Gaskia
----- Original Message ----
From: kenneth harrow <harrow@msu.edu>
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wed, December 22, 2010 11:17:35 PM
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Why is Africa in such a mess?
moses
maybe it is the case that the aspects of scandinavia which you admire are the
"socialist" aspects of their society. maybe your statement about embracing
capitalism, despite its flaws, because it will lead to the creation of wealth
for all, or almost all, ignores the possibility that the very poverty in africa
about which we are concerned has been created, not mitigated, by the capitalist
system that has held it in thrall, during colonial days, neocolonial days,
globalization days.
i am not an historian, so you can correct me here. i thought it generally the
case that the economic situation throughout much of africa has deteriorated
since independence. that when socialist models in tanzania or guinea were tried,
or at least when neocolonialism was resisted, the economic clout of the western
states was enough to subvert those efforts.
you keep referring to the failures of socialism as though there really had been
a state in which the proletariat had become the ruling class. no one believes
that.
no one on the left would defend the authoritarianism that told hold of states
that flourished the banner of socialism or communism. you are attacking a straw
dog, while touting those aspects of societies you admire that actually approach
more successfully ideals of an egalitarian distribution of wealth, which flies
in the face of capitalism, especially capitalism today.
you speak of progress as if it were evident. sorry, i would disagree. just
within my lifetime i have seen the great disparities of wealth appear in the
u.s.; have seen homeless appear in reagan and thatcher's day, where before they
were rare; have seen the continuing demise of the inner cities. while the rich
got richer.
maybe the 10% that hoard the wealth in many african states might be criticized
equally for following this model of accentuating disparities in wealth and
ignoring social services. that model is the neoliberal model of the imf.
it is up to us to resist it. we don't have to call for a socialist revolution to
do so; but when we advocate for a movement back to greater programs for the
disinherited, for less freedom for companies to generate profits for themselves,
we are taxed as advocating socialism.
so be it.
ken
On 12/22/10 4:04 PM, Moses Ebe Ochonu wrote:
> Capitalism is flawed in many ways, but its excesses and flaws and their impacts
>on the poor can be mitigated while still harnessing its wealth-creating
>potential. There is no contradiction here, just nuance that is grounded in a
>quest for progress and the need to defeat or reduce extreme poverty.
>
-- kenneth w. harrow
distinguished professor of english
michigan state university
department of english
east lansing, mi 48824-1036
ph. 517 803 8839
harrow@msu.edu
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