Can capitalist ‘core’ survive the history driving development in the African ‘periphery’? Re-evaluating Immanuel Wallerstein’s world systems analysis
Alfred Ndi
University of Bamenda I, Ä’cole Normale Supérieur, P. O. Box Bambili, Bamenda, North West Region, Republic of Cameroon.
Email: [email protected]
This paper in interdisciplinary studies investigated the discursive effects of African development in the face of western capitalism and its hegemonic altruism [1] with close reference to insights from selected African creative art and social ‘writings’. It found out that I.Wallerstein’s world systems and its analysis are limited in spatial scope and explanatory power because of the conflict between structure and agency, the powerful presence of Africa states despite capitalism, the role of class struggles and the place of culture in the identity politics of Africans.
Key words: Africa’s historical development, (neo/classical, neoliberal) capitalism, Immanuel Wallerstein’s world systems structure of ‘core’ and ‘periphery’, old and new imperialisms, forms of agency, class struggles, cultural discourse, creative art and social ‘writings’.
