The applicability of the Western social contract theory to the Sub-Saharan African political context

Abstract

While much of the world is constantly progressing towards economic, political and social development, Sub-Saharan Africa is generally characterized by persistent political instability that has culminated into an incessant vicious cycle of poverty, conflict and a development deficiency. Colonialism and its attendant legacy in Africa are frequently cited as the main reason why these states have failed to achieve any noticeable accumulative growth. This thesis engages this idea from a social contract perspective. From this standpoint, the thesis is premised upon two observable facts; that state formation is artificial and that no state in the world has ever progressed significantly on a foundation that is politically, socially, culturally and ideologically borrowed. On the first assumption, the thesis argues that state formation is a function of the social contract theory, wherein individuals come together to agree on the type of state they would want to live under, specifying the concomitant obligations on all parties to the contract. The thesis argues that the advent of colonialism led to the formation of a colonial state through a social contract that was deliberately designed to recognize the humanity of the colonizer as superior, and the native Africans as inferior, thereby deserving subjugation andoppression. From this dimension, the social contract that led to the formation of the colonial state was Western-based, catering only to Western interests, and not designed for the native African. On the second assumption, the thesis argues that upon attaining independence, the new African states did not take time to formulate a new social contract based on African experiences, but simply adopted the colonial social contract with minor changes. The thesis demonstrates how this has immensely contributed to the problems that currently bedevil sub- Saharan Africa. It argues for the bold claim that there is need to have a complete overhaul ofthe colonial Western-based social contract, and for the formulation of a new social contract that is founded on authentic African principles. The widely recognized African principle of Botho, is identified as a source of inspiration for the African based social contract theory. Botho’s recognition of the humanness of others is isolated as the most important foundational principle that an African based social contract theory is to be founded. The recognition of the humanness of others is argued for as inculcating principles of governance that are based on accountability and the adoption of social, political and economic principles that promote human well-being for the citizens. In particular, the thesis argues that this kind of social contract theory would be instrumental in ending the cycle of poverty and instability that currently characterizes Africa. Finally, the thesis argues for a Bothocracy, ‘a government of and for the humane’ as the best form of government that should arise from an authentic African social contract theory.