Abstract
The chapter develops theoretical issues around capitalism and freedom. It argues that there are three fundamental Western perspectives are influencing African views, namely, the Marxist-Conflict Perspective, the Weberian-Rational Perspective, and the Capitalist-Liberal Perspective. Concerning the Marxian-Conflict Perspective, capitalism and freedom are studied based on a conflict between the owners of means of production, such as the Western nations that own capital and the exploited African countries. In some circumstances, the focus is on the owners of capital and the exploited laborers who work for a wage. The Weberian-Rational Perspective focuses more on the use of reason in the pursuit of surplus value. Weberian capitalism is very organized and does not take the negative connotation that is evident in the Marxian context. The Capitalist-Liberal Perspective builds on classical liberalism and neoliberalism as structural systems on which capitalism and freedom develop. The idea of freedom/individual freedom is central in the context of production and market exchange. These perspectives are used interchangeably in African thought.
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Notes
- 1.
The proletariats are named differently in Marxian theory depending on their type of work. For instance, the factory proletariats work in the industries, while the Agricultural proletariats or rural proletariats work in the fields. Marx also mentions of the urban proletariats living on paid wages in the urban cities.
- 2.
Karl Marx, Capital Volume One—Preface to the First German Edition: Marx talks of Capitalism’s ‘modern evils’.
- 3.
I will discuss this concept of primitive accumulation further in Chapter 11, where I consider similar evils in the modern African capitalism.
- 4.
Other important figures connected with liberalism include Immanuel Kant, Francis Bacon, and David Hume.
- 5.
Note that, critiquing the society relative to liberty is also present in the ancient times, mainly in the ideas of Plato and Aristotle who were skeptical toward the decisions of the masses without rationality.
- 6.
These ideas are also present in thinkers such as Thomas Malthus and David Ricardo.
- 7.
In some cases, this is called neo-capitalism.
- 8.
This will be discussed in details later in this work.
- 9.
Note that this work will attempt to show elements of capitalism and freedom in the traditional thought.
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Kayange, G.M. (2020). Theoretical Conceptualization of Capitalism and Freedom. In: Capitalism and Freedom in African Political Philosophy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44360-3_2
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