Kita (Mali) in the Time of Modibo Keita: Globalization and Local Continuity

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Periodical article

Title:	Kita (Mali) in the Time of Modibo Keita: Globalization and Local Continuity
Author:	Hopkins, Nicholas S.
Year:	2003
Periodical:	Mande Studies
Volume:	5
Pages:	101-111
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Mali
Subjects:	patronage local politics political change politicians socialism History and Exploration Development and Technology
About person:	Modibo Keïta (1915-1977)
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/44078825
Abstract:	This paper examines the social and political situation of Kita (Mali), a sleepy town of c. 8000 inhabitants, during the time of the presidency of Modibo Keita, the period of Malian socialism (1960-1968). This period of socialism in Mali in the 1960s corresponds chronologically to similar moments of socialism in other countries: the events in Mali followed both a specifically Malian pattern and were part of a global pattern. There were in effect two political systems involving the same set of people in Kita. One was based on what people took to be the ideas of socialism and nationbuilding, the independence and progress of Mali. The other was based on networks of interpersonal relations, most of which were relations between those who were 'higher' or 'lower' in the system, and were based on granting and receiving favours. There were not two sets of people, simply two competing frameworks within which people chose their actions. The ideological framework was not durable, the local political culture continued. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract]