The Difference Between Socialism & Indigenous Communalism

Motion · Nov 2, 2012

This may be of interest to some. I've noticed that many people like socialism because they view it as being close to how many indigenous or traditional people operate economiclly. But this author points out the distinctions between indigenous communalism and the types of socialism put in place by various governments.

Many of Africa's nationalist leaders either misread their own indigenous African economic systems or were ignorant of them. Nyerere (1962), for example, was right in pointing to the communalism of African peasants. It is true the people of Africa pooled their resources together (family pot or fund, working bees, extended family systems, etc.) and helped one another ("communal labor"). But that feature of traditional African society can not be interpreted as readiness for socialism. One can be socialistic or communalistic without necessarily being a socialist or communist. Many rural folks in America are socialistic in the sense that they care about their neighbors, offer voluntary labor to help neighbors rebuild homes devastated by tornadoes, and watch over neighbors' property (neighborhood crime watch). But they are hardly socialist or communists. Neither are the Amish of Pennsylvania.

Being communalistic or socialistic did not necessarily mean the African peasant was communist or socialist and therefore willing to share his wealth equally with all members of the extended family...

The African Executive | Free Markets not Alien to Africa
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The Difference Between Socialism & Indigenous Communalism

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The Difference Between Socialism & Indigenous Communalism

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