Moderate communitarianism and the prospect of an African political philosophy of needs

Abstract

The social, cultural and economic history of Africa informs the various political narratives on the continent. Among these narratives birthing various intellectual discourses are the questions of personhood and communitarianism, socialism, independence, decolonisation and ubuntu. Implicit in these discourses, yet less theorised, is an African political philosophy of needs. By an African political philosophy of needs, I refer to a political philosophy that theorises about the social, economic and political realities in Africa, especially as they pertain to the needs that these realities engender. This article seeks to formulate a compelling, positive African political philosophy of needs. It does this by engaging Gyekye’s “moderate communitarianism”. It explores the various African political philosophical conceptions, thereby showing the need to theorise an African philosophy of needs adequately. The significance of this article is to address how various conditions, namely weak states (as a result of colonialism and postcolonial corruption), the complex history of leaders and massive underdevelopment of countries’ manufacturing capabilities in Africa are unable to respond to people’s needs, and how African political preoccupations, although important, have had deleterious effects on the political philosophy of needs. I shall argue on the capacity of African states to respond adequately to, and become responsible for, their citizens’ needs.