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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Change and Consciousness in Urban Africa: African Workers in Transition
Author:Gutkind, Peter C.W.
Year:1981
Periodical:Cahiers d'études africaines
Volume:21
Issue:81-83
Pages:289-346
Language:English
Geographic term:Africa
Subjects:political consciousness
working class
Labor and Employment
Urbanization and Migration
Economics and Trade
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Politics and Government
Development and Technology
External link:https://doi.org/10.3406/cea.1981.2317
Abstract:Making reference to the extensive literature on the subject, the author discusses the emergence of class consciousness and political consciousness among the marginal African proletariat. In Africa modes of production are changing. The same applies to political and economic relationships. But the pliticization of the proletariat has yet to be achieved. It is the author's view that changes in political consciousness, slow perhaps but significant nevertheless, are contributing to rapid politicization which in turn will transform the African labour force into a true proletariat. Political consciousness will not spring from a simple, and mechanical one-to-one realtionship between economic (wage) aspirations and affluence. The trend which is developing is likely to have its own momentum rooted more in the contradictions (both political and economic) of the world capitalist system than exclusively in the actions of individuals or groups. When the answer to the question 'who are class enemies and who are class friends' is clear to peasants and urban workers, then they will be in a position to seize the state apparatus and effect the transformation towards a rurle of law based on a more equitable distribution of wealth. Bibliogr., notes.
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