Naija Marxisms

Adam Mayer

Description

Since the 1940s, Marxist thought has blossomed in Nigeria. The history of 'Naija Marxism' is also that of the country's labour movement, its feminist movement, its social thought and political economy. It has been the mainstay of party politics in the case of illegal Marxist party formations and legal anti-feudalist forces and in the NGO sector. Long gone are the days when Marxism meant imported pamphlets and a disconnected ideology.



Drawn from years of research in Nigeria and elsewhere, Naija Marxisms breaks new ground in tracing the historical trajectories that leftist movements underwent since the 1940s, whilst arguing that Marxism is alive and well in Nigeria. The book brings together Nigeria’s pre-eminent radical thinkers, from Usman Tar and Edwin Madunagu, who are currently espousing a Marxian political economy and providing a class-based approach in the country’s mainstream media channels, to the international reach of key Nigerian Marxists, such as Mokwugo Okoye, Ikenna Nzimiro and Eskor Toyo.

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

2. The Descent

3. Leftist Movements in Nigeria

4. International Relations of the Nigerian Left

5. Activists, Historiographers and Political Thinkers: Marxist-Leninism versus Heterodoxies

6. Political Economists

7. Marxian Feminisms

8. Conclusion: Analysing Nigerian Marxism

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Sujets

• Minority Studies
• Ethnic Studies
• Economic Policy
• Public Policy
• Social Science
• POLITICAL SCIENCE
• Sociologie, société et politique
• Nigeria Labour Congress
• General officer
• Political economy
• General
• Ibrahim Babangida
• Nnamdi Azikiwe
• Olusegun Obasanjo
• Nigeria

Informations

• Publié par: Pluto Press
• Date de parution: 20 juillet 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783717897
• Langue: English

Extrait

Naija Marxisms

‘A splendid book – erudite, accessible, and entirely original. Mayer writes with authority on the incredible work of Nigerian Marxists, their scholarship and activism, largely ignored by Western scholarship and in contemporary histories of Nigeria, while their books are often difficult, or, for most of us, impossible to access. We hear African Marxists speaking for themselves, resolving questions of the greatest social and political significance with remarkable sophistication. But the book also does much more: it is an elegant history of modern Nigeria, which is simultaneously thorough and accessible, with a necessary focus on labour and socialist politics. A contribution of the highest order – it shows a vibrant and relevant Nigerian Marxism still engaged in a struggle to understand the present and craft possible alternatives for the future.’ —Leo Zeilig, author ofLumumba(2008) andFrantz Fanon(2014)

‘In Adam Mayer’s capable hands,Naija Marxisms offers its readers a detailed map with which to navigate the fascinating and complex landscape of Marxism in Nigeria – past, present, and even futures still to come. A wonderful, insightful introduction to a topic that everyone interested in political change and social justice should know more about.’ —Imre Szeman, Canada Research Chair in Cultural Studies, University of Alberta and co-editor of Contemporary Marxist Theory: An Anthology

‘African Marxism has been neglected not only in Westernized Universities but also by the Marxist Left. Here is a corrective to this trend. Adam Mayer takes seriously Nigerian Marxism and shows its unique contributions. This is atour de forcein many fields of scholarship. I highly recommend it!’ —Professor Ramon Grosfoguel, University of California at Berkeley

‘Adam Mayer has taken up a huge task, which helps to put the rich canvas of the Nigerian Left in sharp historic relief, for a global audience. Considering the breadth and depth of its hitherto largely unexplored subject matter, it is an excellent effort which is concisely articulated.’ —Baba Aye, National Convener, United Action for Democracy (UAD), Nigeria

‘Adam Mayer has done something of exceptional importance – he has rescued the history of Nigerian Marxism from scholarly and political oblivion. This first book-length history of Marxism and Marxist thought in Nigeria puts to rest some of the more pervasive Cold War assumptions, which often cast the “giant of Africa” as a “communism-free zone”. Mayer ’s source base is rich and spectacularly diverse, his commitment to the subject of his study in all its overwhelming complexity is worthy of praise. As a former citizen of a socialist state Mayer is well-positioned to recognize and analyze the transnational nature of Nigerian Marxism. Nigeria’s maddening neoliberal contradictions, its deep rifts of class and economic inequality also generated an intense intellectual critique of global capitalism and brought to life several generations of Marxian thinkers and political activists whose massive work has finally found its historian.’ —Maxim Matusevich, Associate Professor of World History, Seton Hall University, author ofAfrica in Russia, Russia in Africa: Three Centuries of Encounters(2006) andNo Easy Row for a Russian Hoe: Ideology and Pragmatism in Nigerian-Soviet Relations, 1960–1991(2003)

‘This is the first major book on the Nigerian Left, carefully revealing the socialist ideas of Marxist movements, along with their achievements and failures, all set in the larger context of a troubled country. Part learned and part inspirational, it successfully provides the historical and epistemological foundation to understand a powerful ideology that remains alive today, as well as the intellectual orientations and practical efforts of the consistently committed comrades. It pushes counterculture to the critical centre, thereby supplying scholarly leadership that promises to unleash vibrant dialogues and even new forms of action.’ —Toyin Falola, Past President, African Studies Association, Jacob and Frances Mossiker Chair in the Humanities and University Distinguished Teaching Professor, University of Texas at Austin

‘Naija Marxisms provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the history of Marxist thought in Nigeria. If you are angry about the current state of society in Nigeria, you should use this

book to learn important lessons from those who struggled against similar challenges. As Isaac Newton said, we can see further because we stand on the shoulders of giants. This book provides you with access to the thoughts of the giants of Nigerian Marxism.’ —Andy Wynne, Senior Lecturer at the University of Leicester, researcher in Nigeria

‘Three-plus decades in the aftermath of post-colonial euphoria and a quarter century after the implosion of the Soviet Union, Adam Mayer’s work on Nigerian “marxisms” is a much welcomed contribution to the study of Africa’s largest country. One doesn’t have to agree with all of Mayer’s conclusions to recognize that his work is an important step in the direction of recognizing, understanding and even resuscitating an often ignored tradition.’ —William Hansen, American University of Nigeria, Yola

‘Adam Mayer’sNaija Marxismsa compelling exploration of leftist/Marxist ideas in Nigerian is economics, political history, unions, social development and the arts. The scope and depth of the work is simply astonishing. In a style that is both informative and witty, Mayer’s work gives us deep insight into the forces that have shaped Nigeria into the state it is today.’ —Professor Michael Erickson, Webster University