Augustine Moshi
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 22, 2006
- 2,554
- 1,382
Do we still have class struggle in Tanzania? Did we ever have class struggle in Tanzania, or was it just a case of intellectual theorizing?
I recall our beloved Professor Isa Shivji writing a book on Class Struggle in Tanzania. He also wrote a book, or at least an essay, on The Class Struggle Continues. I am supposed to have read both, but that was a very long time ago. I do not remember the contents.
What were the classes? I recall that the good Professor identified one of them as the Dukawalas. These were the small shop owners (there were no large shops in the country). According to Shivji, the Dukawalas constituted a class, and, what is more, the rest of us were struggling against them. The political and technocratic elite were another class, and these were supposed to be engaged in a fierce struggle against you and me.
The peasantry, which really was almost everybody, was the main class. But did they know that they were a class, and that they were engaged in a struggle with other classes? These other classes were of course infinitely small in comparison, and were in large measure elected into their positions by their opponents (the peasants).
Is there a class struggle in Tanzania? Has there ever been a class struggle in Tanzania (other than in the minds of intellectuals)?
I suppose that nobody talks about class struggle in Tanzania anymore. Not even Professor Shivji. Was it all for nothing? We do have classes in Tanzania, but are they supposed to be engaged in a struggle?
I recall our beloved Professor Isa Shivji writing a book on Class Struggle in Tanzania. He also wrote a book, or at least an essay, on The Class Struggle Continues. I am supposed to have read both, but that was a very long time ago. I do not remember the contents.
What were the classes? I recall that the good Professor identified one of them as the Dukawalas. These were the small shop owners (there were no large shops in the country). According to Shivji, the Dukawalas constituted a class, and, what is more, the rest of us were struggling against them. The political and technocratic elite were another class, and these were supposed to be engaged in a fierce struggle against you and me.
The peasantry, which really was almost everybody, was the main class. But did they know that they were a class, and that they were engaged in a struggle with other classes? These other classes were of course infinitely small in comparison, and were in large measure elected into their positions by their opponents (the peasants).
Is there a class struggle in Tanzania? Has there ever been a class struggle in Tanzania (other than in the minds of intellectuals)?
I suppose that nobody talks about class struggle in Tanzania anymore. Not even Professor Shivji. Was it all for nothing? We do have classes in Tanzania, but are they supposed to be engaged in a struggle?