Moses O. Aderibigbe^*

Show more
Federal university of technology general studies department school of sciences Akure, Nigeria.
Show less

Abstract: Africa is no doubt one of the continents endowed with resources necessary for the achievement of development in all areas. The pre-colonial era as crude as being described, was to a large extent characterized by values for self sustenance. However, the crises being witnessed in Africa as it manifest in hunger, lack and scarcity over these years have been on one hand, argued to have resulted from the contact Africa had with the external forces of colonialism. These forces as claimed ushered in unbridled economic system with its implications on value system of brotherhood, reciprocity and fraternity among others. On the other hand, the internal forces which manifest in corruption, mismanagement and bad leadership, have totally grounded the development to a halt. This paper critically examines these forces of change, with the aim of identifying the missing link and attempt to suggest ways towards charting a new course in order to regain the values. The paper applies John Rawls Difference Principle as a theoretical framework, capable of ensuring that benefits and burdens are fairly distributed for the advantage of every one, more especially the less privileged in society. This would enhance the attainment of a stable social order as it promotes the ideals of reciprocity and fraternity in society.

Keywords: Poverty; Colonialism; Leadership; Rawls; Values

Cite this paper: Aderibigbe, M. (2012). Poverty in Africa and the Forces of Change: Reflections on Rawls Difference Principle. Advances in Applied Sociology, 2, 223-228. doi: 10.4236/aasoci.2012.23029.

References

[1]   Albert, I. A., & Agwunwah-Nkwazema (2008). Gender conflict and poverty in West Africa. Journal of the Institute of African Studies, 80.

[2]   Blau, P. M. (1972). Social exchange, international encyclopedia of the social sciences. New York: The Macmillan, 452.

[3]   Eruvemba, J. T. (1985). The concept of African brotherhood and praxis of unity: Nyerere revisited in philosophy in Africa trends and perspectives. University of Ife Press. Ile-Ife, 196.

[4]   Fortes, M., & Evans-Prichard, E. E. (1946). African political system. London: Oxford University Press, 21.

[5]   Gyekye, K. (2003). Political corruption: Aphilosophical inquiry into a moral problem. In Philosophy and politics, discourse on values, politics and power in Africa (p. 395). Lagos: Malthouse Press.

[6]   Hyden, G. (1990). Reciprocity and governance in Africa. In The failure of the centralized state institutions and self-governance (p. 253). Westview press, Oxford.

[7]   Nyerere, J. K. (1960). Ujaama: The basis of African socialism. Oxford: University Press, 107-108.

[8]   Oladipo, O.T. (2009). Philosophy and social reconstruction in Africa. Ibadan: Hope Publication, 18.

[9]   Oladipo, O.T. (1992). Freedom and culture: The African experience, praxis international. A Philosophical Journal, 12, 205-214.

[10]   Osaghae, E. (1989). The passage from the past to the present in African political thought: The question of relevance in African traditional political thought and institutions. Lagos: Centre for Black and Africa Arts and Civilization, 54.

[11]   Oruka, O. S. (2000). Critique of rawls in the philosophy quest: A cross- cultural reader. Mc.Graw Hill Inc., 610

[12]   Oyeshile, O. (2000). Corruption and underdevelopment in Nigeria”. RECALL: A Chronicle of Nigerian Events, 1, 55.

[13]   Rawls, J. (1971). Theory of justice. Harvard: University Press, 62.

[14]   Rodney, W. (1972). How Europe underdeveloped Africa. Dar-es-Salam: Publishing House.

[15]   Tanzania Senghor, L. S. (1975). A prerequisite: Cultural independence in Readings in African political thought. London: Heinemann, 599.

[16]   Ujomu, P. (2002). Social conflicts resource distribution and social justice in Nigeria. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 63, 197-228.

[17]   Uroh, C. U. (1998). Situating the challenge of development in Africa. Ibadan: Africa and the Challenges of Development, Hope Publication, 8.

[18]   Uroh, C. U. (1998). Beyond ethnicity: The crisis of the state and regime legitimation in Remaking Africa, challenges of the twenty-first century. Ibadan: Hope Publication, 98.

[19]   William, A. (1992). Prologue: Crisis in African cultures, in Person and community: Ghanian philosophical studies 1. Washington DC: The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 27.