The Political Economy in Ubuntu: Insights for Poverty Alleviation in Africa

Abstract

Despite many efforts by African governments and other institutions to address poverty in Africa, the number of people living below the global poverty line continue to increase. Many issues can be attributed as causes of this phenomenon. They range from economic models, political systems, weak policies, misappropriation of public funds, plunder, inequalities, exclusion and unending conflicts, among others. Many African countries have adopted capitalism as an economic political model to improve their economies, hoping that profit which is seen as a drive for development will trickle down to the masses and so, reduce poverty levels. As things stand, this model seems to widen the gap between the rich and the poor. While considering the contribution of capitalism to the development of Africa, this paper argues that efforts to alleviate poverty in Africa ought to incorporate African indigenous insights and ethos in political economic models. In so doing, the paper extrapolates the political economy embedded in ubuntu philosophy of life and suggests that a true human potential to address poverty in Africa and enhance communal prosperity can only be realised by placing emphasis on interdependence, solidarity, and collective responsibility.