Capitalism and Freedom in African Political Philosophy by Grivas Muchineripi Kayange

Author:Grivas Muchineripi Kayange
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783030443603
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

8.2 Economic Dependence or Independence?

Can African nations control their economy as independent nations amidst economic dependence on foreign aid/debt? Can the assumed communitarian philosophy lead to economic independence? This first fundamental economic philosophy conflict is between economic dependence and independence. Conceptual analysis of the concept ‘dependence’ entails that the continued existence of a particular element is tied to another element. Dependence calls for the logic of conditionals or implication, which states a relation that if A then B (symbolized as A ⊃ B). This logic excludes the idea that B can economically do well when A has failed to do so. A nation that depends on another nation cannot do well without its antecedent. However, the expectation is that the bilateral relations between nations require the notion of ‘mutual economic dependence’ (inter-dependence). The logic that is expected between nations may be defined by a bi-conditional, that A if and only if B (A ≡ B). This suggests that the two nations equally benefit. On the other hand, the concept ‘economic independence’ implies that a nation lives an economic life without constraints, it is self-supporting. The idea of independence is interchangeable with the notion of economic freedom. This is whether an individual has the power to determine what type of relation he/she wants to enter and has a say in developing conditions for a particular relation.

The question that we may now ask is, ‘what type of economic relation model is followed by the African and other so-called developing nations?’ Obviously, the way conditions are dictated by the Western markets, and banks (IMF and World Bank), and donors show that economic mutual dependence may hardly be the case. The type of relationship that is holding between Western capitalists and underdeveloped nations is theorized pretty well by the dependency theory, which states that resources move from the poor nations and are concentrated in the developing countries. In this unbalanced relation, the poor nations continue to be impoverished while the rich nations increase their wealth at the expense of the former. Determining this factor requires a further study on whether the conditionality and other strategies are benefitting more the Western capitalist nations or the underdeveloped countries. This work cannot determine this as it is out of its scope; however, the general sentiments in the dependency theory are that this is the case. In fact, it is contended in this theory that in some circumstances economic dependence may be created in order to benefit from the poor nations.

Let us consider further the relation between economic dependence and independence in the African setting. African nations in the sub-Saharan region have gone through various economic conflicts since the 1980s. The main philosophical problem has been the dilemma between dependence on Western capitalists supporting the African nations and independence, whereas independent nations were free to make relevant decisions in the economic context. History shows that African nations were colonized by capitalists and their economy depended on them. The question still remains whether the independence of Africa also meant economic independence.

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