African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, 2nd July 1979
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1979-07-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research
Abstract
This document captures the discussion in Group IV on Lead Paper No. 1 at the African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, held on 2nd July 1979. Chaired by D. Ongewe, with U. Kill as rapporteur, the discussion explores the concept of development within social sciences, emphasizing the production process, productive forces, and social relations. The group debated whether capitalist stages are necessary in socialist development and discussed historical materialism's (H.M.) perspective on rural-urban migration and the marginalization of the rural population. Members argued for a grounded approach to development that acknowledges the class struggles and economic realities in African societies, specifically addressing challenges related to capitalist influence, primitive accumulation, and the role of social scientists.
Description
This discussion summary delves into the intricacies of development theory within the social sciences, focusing on the interactions between productive forces, production relations, and social class dynamics. Participants examined the relevance of socialism as a developmental path, the influence of foreign capital, and the feasibility of bypassing capitalist stages. The document critiques various theories on urban migration and peasant marginalization, comparing perspectives of Official Bourgeois Economic Theory (OBET), Radical Sociology (RS), and historical materialism. The session emphasizes political consciousness-raising as essential in participatory research and development.
Keywords
Participatory Research, Social Sciences, Development Theory, Capitalism, Socialism, Class Struggle, Economic Production, Primitive Accumulation, Urban Migration, Political Activism, African Regional Workshop, Tanzania
Citation
Ongewe, D. (1979). African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, 2nd July 1979. Group Discussion on Lead Paper No. 1: The Concept of Development in the Social Sciences.