The United States of Africa: A Revisit

George B. N. Ayittey
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George B. N. Ayittey: American University

The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2010, vol. 632, issue 1, 86-102

Abstract: Pan-Africanism was developed over the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to combat the political subjugation of black people and the vestiges of slavery. Its founding belief is that black peoples share common cultures, problems, and objectives. It was, therefore, imperative for blacks to unite to achieve their objectives. On the African continent, Pan-Africanism became the rallying cry for the struggle for independence from colonial rule. In 1963, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was established to advance the cause of Pan-Africanism. However, the organization steadily lost credibility and relevance. It was eventually dissolved in 2001. Its replacement, the African Union (AU), is scarcely better. It became hobbled by political intrigues, inflated egos, and personality clashes among its leaders. Nonetheless, the rationale for a united Africa remains strong today. A much better approach lies in configuring a larger African polity in consonance with Africa’s own indigenous heritage. As such, a Confederation of African States (CAS) or an African Confederation would be a better configuration.

Keywords: Pan-Africanism; Organization of African Unity (OAU); Kwame Nkrumah; W. E. B. Du Bois; African Union (AU); United States of Africa; confederation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:anname:v:632:y:2010:i:1:p:86-102

DOI: 10.1177/0002716210378988

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