The ideological formation of the Zimbabwean ruling class

Bibliographic Data

ID3136352
AuthorsDavid Moore (0000-0002-5860-3109, Athabasca University, corresponding author), David B Moore (0000-0002-8077-270X)
Year1991
Volume17
Issue3
Pages472-495
Publication date1991-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Southern African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-7070 • E-ISSN: 1465-3893
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03057079108708288
OpenAlexW2016524210
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited35

This article uses Gramscian perspectives on hegemony and intellectuals to trace the contradictory formation of the contemporary Zimbabwean ruling class. It argues, contrary to views claiming that there is no hegemonic discourse (or, presumably, class) in Zimbabwe, that the present ruling group has consolidated and is maintaining its hegemony. To be sure, such a process is unstable and subject to much contestation, but the historical evidence indicates that the nascent state class has handled such contradictions —many of which were internal to it —with a judicious balance of persuasion and force. The main ideological contradictions experienced by the intellectuals on the road to power —an early form of ‘populism versus elitism’ and a later one of ‘Marxism versus capitalism’ —were resolved in favour of the latter tendencies through a process of physical sidelining and discursive absorption. There is little reason to believe that the contemporary ruling class will not continue to maintain its position in such a manner

Class formation · Epistemology · Ideology · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Ruling class · Sociology · African history and culture studies · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Gender Studies · Law · Philosophy

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