African Economic Humanism - The Rise of an African Economic Philosophy

Ashgate Publishing, April 2011, Pages: 242

African Economic Humanism - The Rise of an African Economic Philosophy

Why does capitalism fail to thrive in Africa? Is there an alternative system that will enhance economic development?

In African Economic Humanism, Mfuniselwa Bhengu believes he has the answer. He focuses on the cultural influences, the traditional concept of Ubuntu with its emphasis on community, sharing and generosity, to establish an approach to economics that is rooted in African belief systems. Based on his studies of African philosophy and economics, his theory of economic humanism could have the power to transform individuals, organizations and societies throughout and beyond Africa.

This exciting addition to the Gower Transformation and Innovation Series is of interest to a wide international audience of academics and researchers, policy makers, development specialists and businesses.

Reviews:

'Mfuniselwa Bhengu has finally brought together the strands of intellectual thought grounded in the organic, historic, and ordinary lives of African people to suggest a new, more authentic, and indeed, more human form of relationship. For those who are interested in understanding and appreciating the gifts of Africa in the realm of economics, there is no more genuine and engaging work anywhere.' – Molefi Kete Asante, author of The History of Africa

'Mfuniselwa Bhengu has written a book which, once opened, is difficult to put down. In our globalised world, the issue of the place of our African values, which are anchored in the spirit of concern and care for fellow human beings, is investigated against the background of post-apartheid South African attempts at domesticating capitalism. Bhengu's main message in this regard is that our African humanistic values must be central to human economic relations in post-colonial or post-apartheid Africa.' – Dr Munyaradzi Felix Murove, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

- Prologue

- Pre-colonial indigenous African economic relations

- The ascendancy of Western capitalism

- The nature of South African capitalism

- Responses to Western capitalism

- The 'capitalist comrades'

- The Bantu philosophy of Ntu

- A theory of African economic humanism

- Epilogue: the birth of the human future

- Appendix: References

- Index

Mfuniselwa John Bhengu is a Parliamentarian in the Republic of South Africa. He has served in many Parliamentary Portfolio Committees, both at the National Assembly and KwaZulu/Natal Legislature. He has held executive positions for over 20 years in a range of national, regional and local public and private bodies. He is widely acknowledged as an authority on African philosophy (Ubuntu) and economics. He is a doctoral candidate with the DST/NRF South African Research Chair in Development Education at the University of South Africa – UNISA. Bhengu has travelled widely in connection with his many roles, spoken worldwide, and authored two books on Ubuntu. He is an Associate Researcher for the TRANS4M Four World Center for Innovation in Geneva.

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