Rethinking Marxism and anarchism through African philosophical constructs and communal ethics in a neo-liberal era
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8244693 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Fidelis Amaechi Nwador (0009-0000-4127-820X, Delta Air Lines (United States), corresponding author), Franklins A Sanubi (0000-0002-8887-4241, Delta Air Lines (United States)) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-19 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-24 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | African Identities (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1472-5843 • E-ISSN: 1472-5851 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14725843.2026.2648036 |
| OpenAlex | W7140227577 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 15 |
This article is an attempt to provide a comprehensive critique of Marxist and anarchist ideologies by examining their intersections and divergences within socialism with a reflection on the exploitative nature of capitalist systems, the alienation of labor, and the inevitability of revolutionary upheaval. We contrasts Marx’s centralized, state-oriented vision of socialism with Pierre-Joseph Proudhon’s anarchist emphasis on decentralized, cooperative systems. The critique expands into an exploration of capitalism’s adaptations in response to socialist pressures and working class consciousness, highlighting its reforms such as welfare provisions, cooperative structures, and mitigated exploitation, albeit with enduring systemic contradictions. This study evaluates the failure of authoritarian socialist regimes, notably the USSR, and argues for a synthesis of African philosophical constructs – such as Nkrumah’s Consciencism and Anyiam-Osigwe’s holistic theories to overcome the limitations of both capitalism and Marxism. Additionally, the article revisits the anarcho-syndicalist experiments, particularly in Spain, as an alternative model of equitable resource distribution and governance, and thus advanced a synthesis on African communal values like Ubuntu and Ujamaa, proposing a new socioeconomic paradigm emphasizing moral integrity, collective responsibility, and limited government. We advocate re-imagining democracy and social organization to align with universal moral and cosmic principles, transcending the exploitative frameworks of existing systems.
Morality · Normative ethics · African cultural and philosophical studies · Anarchism and Radical Politics · Political theory and Gramsci
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Necropolitics
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |