Ubuntu as a Counter to Neocolonial Structures

Adebimpe Desire Fashina ()
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Adebimpe Desire Fashina: Technical University of Mombasa

Chapter Chapter 13 in Socioeconomics, Philosophy, and Deneocoloniality, 2025, pp 261-274 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract An African philosophy known as Ubuntu, which emphasizes interconnection and compassion among people, is discussed in this chapter as a compelling alternative to the dominant neocolonial systems in present-day Africa. Post-colonial Theory and African philosophical viewpoints summarize key arguments and discussions regarding Ubuntu’s significance and applicability. This chapter examines how Ubuntu principles can be applied to reimagine and reconstruct African economic, political and social interactions through case studies and textual analyses. In this chapter, Ubuntu is used to explores how it might inspire more fair, cooperative and sustainable financial systems that challenge neocolonial capitalism’s exploitative principles. It also examines how Ubuntu’s emphasis on participation, accountability, and the common good can revolutionize democratic governance and decision-making. In sum, the chapter discusses how Ubuntu’s recognition of every individual’s inherent worth and interdependence can undermine neocolonial social structures and contribute to a harmonious and cooperative community. Despite the challenges and constraints to Africa’s institutional structures, the chapter emphasizes the need to recover and re-center Ubuntu's indigenous philosophy. This is crucial for overcoming neocolonialism and affirming African autonomy. The chapter therefore discusses Ubuntu’s role in decolonizing knowledge, values, and paradigms. Furthermore, it suggests further research on how Ubuntu can be used in modern settings.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-031-94374-4_13

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-94374-4_13

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