Yesterday I read your essay on the ‘radical business’ of cooperative workers, I was so enthralled by such impeccably shared and interesting information that I immediately wanted to research possibilities/outlets in this area. Quietly though…
Quietly, for the same reason that I didn’t leave a comment despite a deep interest. The reason, I am not well enough informed, I didn’t/don’t feel qualified to speak on a subject I know little/nothing about no matter that it makes perfect sense.
And now here, again! An immaculately written, informative, intelligent essay. Either your knowledge of world economics/social/political policies is vast or you’ve spent hours researching Safar, either way I am in complete awe. Kudos!
Then, something odd, I see my name by a comment and can’t quite understand how anything I may have written could even remotely pertain to your work… yet I see that somehow in my simple and very humble way it does.
Thank you so very much for including me in your essay - I am quite honestly bowled over in gratitude.
This comment, wow, I think I want to frame it and hang it on my wall for those moments of doubt. Thank you so much, Susie.
A couple of weeks ago, I think it was Jenna Newall Hiott, shared someone's post which was a 'here's me', the background which led to where they are now and how they came to be writing what they do. Jenna invited others to do the same. (Sorry Jenna, if it wasn't you ).
Your comment reminded me of it, and as I am now between series, perhaps it's time to share how I came to this place?
What ever you write next Safar, if you make it even only half as interesting as all I’ve read before, I won’t be able to put it down… you’re so welcome. Thank you… truly.
Susie, I often feel exactly the same and do not leave comments. There are so many brilliant minds here. I want to soak up these intriguing ideas but have few original ones to offer. I’d like to have a chat with people who could put up with a newbie like me. Anyway, you’re not alone!
We are walking the same lane Louise, I just want to listen read and learn, for a little while at least. I’d rather say nothing than say something badly, especially here in Substack, there are so many great minds… thank you so much for allowing me to feel less stranded. X
When reading others' work, I'm often spellbound and awed, and need to rest with their words for a while - similarly, not feeling able to comment. Like Susie, too, I often don't feel qualified and only able to offer - I found that really interesting.
Thank you for writing this wonderful newsletter and I'm honored to have contributed to this discussion. Throughout human history especially of democracies we have made far more social progress when we've cooperated with each other than when we've been "competitive". The idea that "progress" is only made via greedy cutthroat behavior is b.s. that begs the question "progress for whom?" Snd selling us on that idea is I think an authoritarian supremacist tactic.
On leaving school, I went to a physical education college and was inspired by a lecturer, more a mentor at the time, and we explored cooperation in PE rather than competition - ideas I piloted during teaching practice under her supervision. It was a heck of a lot of fun, and established a level playing field in the 'classroom'. I never did become a PE teacher, although I did some coaching, but I guess that experience was formative and has stayed with me in so many different ways since.
Safar, thank you for this wonderful message. I’m looking forward to reading your next series! (But please do come back to participatory democracy at some point. There is so much to explore!)
I once saw Mr. Nyerere after I was forced out of my car at an intersection where I stood under an African noonday sun waiting almost an hour for Mr. Nyerere to pass by with his host, Dr. Hastings Banda, Malawi’s President for Life, in Dr. Banda’s red Rolls Royce convertible. My attendance at the chance sighting was enforced by a band of Young Pioneers, a Malawi government sponsored youth organization that was a kind of cross between the 4H and Hitler Youth who derived much of their legitimacy from the sjamboks they wielded.
I always believed Mr. Nyerere was one of the few post-colonial African leaders who sincerely and intelligently sought to improve the lives of his people, but somehow even he was seduced by power and resorted to strongman tactics such as a one party “democracy,” detention without trial, and the ever favorite President for Life tenure. Political monocropping always leads to political, economic, and social stagnation and decay, and I remember how formerly decent infrastructure in Tanzania simply deteriorated. Paved roads became so impassable because of potholes that the pavement was finally bulldozed away. I once sat next to a government economic advisor who ranted to me about the West’s conspiracy to thwart Tanzania’s aspirations by switching from sacks and rope made from sisal grown in Tanzania to synthetic fibers. While he held forth about sisal, I thought about how the same toilets and sinks in the Dar es Salaam airport were still not working since my last four trips through the international airport.
To implement his vision of a just and equitable society built upon traditional African values, major industries were nationalized, including the above mentioned sisal industry, as well as much of the financial sector. I always worried whether the same class of government employees charged with keeping the airport loos working were also responsible for ensuring a stable currency. I also worried about the traditional farmers who were resettled, herded, into collective farming schemes that in many cases failed and left areas of the country dependent on food aid. Somehow Mr. Nyerere’s high minded philosophy did not translate well into a workable reality, and as is the case in nations with single party “democracies,” there is no opposition to hold the leadership accountable to the people. As they say in those nations where the governments are not accountable to the people, “when the elephants dance, the grass gets trampled.” Reality can be a tricky thing and high minded ideals do not always translate well into everyday life, thus the need for a political system that can be refreshed and rejuvenated with new blood and fresh ideas.
Eventually, Mr. Nyerere stepped down peacefully, to his great credit and unlike so many of his peers, and somehow remained personally uncorrupted, unlike the execrable Mobuto Sese Seku in then Zaire. Nyerere was a decent, honest man who meant well, fought hard for the liberation movements responsible for decolonizing Africa, but ultimately failed in his quest to create in Tanzania a just, equitable, and prosperous society. One of the lesson to be learned from his experience is that we, all of us, can benefit more from the advice of our critics than from some of our friends. A political echo chamber is a dangerous thing.
Oh wow, Switter, firstly, a very warm thank you - thank you so much for sharing your personal experience and adding greatly to the conversation - an essay in itself. It's super to have you here!
I have always had mixed feelings about his leadership, which you have expressed so well. Whilst he didn't set himself up as a tyrant (the early stages of his leadership were built on consensus) there were tyrannical aspects to the system he instilled. I agree a lot with the notion that his philosophical vision and intent were sound, but there was a problem of practicality. In action, I think he drew far too much from state communism (under the language of creating unity) by implementing single party government and state controlled industries and agriculture.
If you want familyhood, then the political site for change is the family itself. I can't help but feel that a bottom-up rather than a top-down approach would have been more instrumental in achieving the ujamaa, or tribal socialism he hoped for. That would have been closer to the ideal picture of a precolonial Africa on which the theory of African socialism was based.
Again, a big thank you for sharing your own perceptions and insights and joining the conversation!
Safar, I feel as though I waltzed into the most splendid conversation of possibility already happening. I so admire your beautiful weave of others’ words around a theme. I cannot wait to read about beauty. . . .
Yesterday I read your essay on the ‘radical business’ of cooperative workers, I was so enthralled by such impeccably shared and interesting information that I immediately wanted to research possibilities/outlets in this area. Quietly though…
Quietly, for the same reason that I didn’t leave a comment despite a deep interest. The reason, I am not well enough informed, I didn’t/don’t feel qualified to speak on a subject I know little/nothing about no matter that it makes perfect sense.
And now here, again! An immaculately written, informative, intelligent essay. Either your knowledge of world economics/social/political policies is vast or you’ve spent hours researching Safar, either way I am in complete awe. Kudos!
Then, something odd, I see my name by a comment and can’t quite understand how anything I may have written could even remotely pertain to your work… yet I see that somehow in my simple and very humble way it does.
Thank you so very much for including me in your essay - I am quite honestly bowled over in gratitude.
This comment, wow, I think I want to frame it and hang it on my wall for those moments of doubt. Thank you so much, Susie.
A couple of weeks ago, I think it was Jenna Newall Hiott, shared someone's post which was a 'here's me', the background which led to where they are now and how they came to be writing what they do. Jenna invited others to do the same. (Sorry Jenna, if it wasn't you ).
Your comment reminded me of it, and as I am now between series, perhaps it's time to share how I came to this place?
What ever you write next Safar, if you make it even only half as interesting as all I’ve read before, I won’t be able to put it down… you’re so welcome. Thank you… truly.
Susie, I often feel exactly the same and do not leave comments. There are so many brilliant minds here. I want to soak up these intriguing ideas but have few original ones to offer. I’d like to have a chat with people who could put up with a newbie like me. Anyway, you’re not alone!
We are walking the same lane Louise, I just want to listen read and learn, for a little while at least. I’d rather say nothing than say something badly, especially here in Substack, there are so many great minds… thank you so much for allowing me to feel less stranded. X
When reading others' work, I'm often spellbound and awed, and need to rest with their words for a while - similarly, not feeling able to comment. Like Susie, too, I often don't feel qualified and only able to offer - I found that really interesting.
Thank you for writing this wonderful newsletter and I'm honored to have contributed to this discussion. Throughout human history especially of democracies we have made far more social progress when we've cooperated with each other than when we've been "competitive". The idea that "progress" is only made via greedy cutthroat behavior is b.s. that begs the question "progress for whom?" Snd selling us on that idea is I think an authoritarian supremacist tactic.
On leaving school, I went to a physical education college and was inspired by a lecturer, more a mentor at the time, and we explored cooperation in PE rather than competition - ideas I piloted during teaching practice under her supervision. It was a heck of a lot of fun, and established a level playing field in the 'classroom'. I never did become a PE teacher, although I did some coaching, but I guess that experience was formative and has stayed with me in so many different ways since.
Safar, thank you for this wonderful message. I’m looking forward to reading your next series! (But please do come back to participatory democracy at some point. There is so much to explore!)
There really is so much to explore. I think I'll be recycling back and revisiting certain themes from time to time. Diving deeper.
I once saw Mr. Nyerere after I was forced out of my car at an intersection where I stood under an African noonday sun waiting almost an hour for Mr. Nyerere to pass by with his host, Dr. Hastings Banda, Malawi’s President for Life, in Dr. Banda’s red Rolls Royce convertible. My attendance at the chance sighting was enforced by a band of Young Pioneers, a Malawi government sponsored youth organization that was a kind of cross between the 4H and Hitler Youth who derived much of their legitimacy from the sjamboks they wielded.
I always believed Mr. Nyerere was one of the few post-colonial African leaders who sincerely and intelligently sought to improve the lives of his people, but somehow even he was seduced by power and resorted to strongman tactics such as a one party “democracy,” detention without trial, and the ever favorite President for Life tenure. Political monocropping always leads to political, economic, and social stagnation and decay, and I remember how formerly decent infrastructure in Tanzania simply deteriorated. Paved roads became so impassable because of potholes that the pavement was finally bulldozed away. I once sat next to a government economic advisor who ranted to me about the West’s conspiracy to thwart Tanzania’s aspirations by switching from sacks and rope made from sisal grown in Tanzania to synthetic fibers. While he held forth about sisal, I thought about how the same toilets and sinks in the Dar es Salaam airport were still not working since my last four trips through the international airport.
To implement his vision of a just and equitable society built upon traditional African values, major industries were nationalized, including the above mentioned sisal industry, as well as much of the financial sector. I always worried whether the same class of government employees charged with keeping the airport loos working were also responsible for ensuring a stable currency. I also worried about the traditional farmers who were resettled, herded, into collective farming schemes that in many cases failed and left areas of the country dependent on food aid. Somehow Mr. Nyerere’s high minded philosophy did not translate well into a workable reality, and as is the case in nations with single party “democracies,” there is no opposition to hold the leadership accountable to the people. As they say in those nations where the governments are not accountable to the people, “when the elephants dance, the grass gets trampled.” Reality can be a tricky thing and high minded ideals do not always translate well into everyday life, thus the need for a political system that can be refreshed and rejuvenated with new blood and fresh ideas.
Eventually, Mr. Nyerere stepped down peacefully, to his great credit and unlike so many of his peers, and somehow remained personally uncorrupted, unlike the execrable Mobuto Sese Seku in then Zaire. Nyerere was a decent, honest man who meant well, fought hard for the liberation movements responsible for decolonizing Africa, but ultimately failed in his quest to create in Tanzania a just, equitable, and prosperous society. One of the lesson to be learned from his experience is that we, all of us, can benefit more from the advice of our critics than from some of our friends. A political echo chamber is a dangerous thing.
Oh wow, Switter, firstly, a very warm thank you - thank you so much for sharing your personal experience and adding greatly to the conversation - an essay in itself. It's super to have you here!
I have always had mixed feelings about his leadership, which you have expressed so well. Whilst he didn't set himself up as a tyrant (the early stages of his leadership were built on consensus) there were tyrannical aspects to the system he instilled. I agree a lot with the notion that his philosophical vision and intent were sound, but there was a problem of practicality. In action, I think he drew far too much from state communism (under the language of creating unity) by implementing single party government and state controlled industries and agriculture.
If you want familyhood, then the political site for change is the family itself. I can't help but feel that a bottom-up rather than a top-down approach would have been more instrumental in achieving the ujamaa, or tribal socialism he hoped for. That would have been closer to the ideal picture of a precolonial Africa on which the theory of African socialism was based.
Again, a big thank you for sharing your own perceptions and insights and joining the conversation!
Safar, I feel as though I waltzed into the most splendid conversation of possibility already happening. I so admire your beautiful weave of others’ words around a theme. I cannot wait to read about beauty. . . .
I am so grateful people comment, or I'd have nothing to write!