Social Change In Modern Africa

This book shows the applicability of Thomas Kuhn's theory of the structure of scientific revolutions to the struggle for social change in southern Africa. The components of this theory which seem applicable to the conflict and the struggle for fundamental social change in this troubled region of Africa are: definition of paradigms, their functions, the elements of paradigm shifts and their effect, the relationship between paradigm shift in natural and social science, and the concept of anomaly. This study utilizes the components of this theory to discuss why the problems of southern Africa seem to defy this solution.

Study of social changes in Africa south of Sahara - covers tradition, accession to independence, the role of France, the role of UK in the new economic structure, labour mobility, urbanization, migration, the social structure, languages, education, women, tribal peoples, political leadership of the educated elite, political problems, nationalist ideology, etc. Maps.

Originally published in 1961, this book analyses economic changes in Africa and the restructuring of social relations to which this hs led. there are also detailed studies of the character of social changes in individual communities. There is a particular focus on changing kinship status and neighbourhood as the impact of modern economic conditions is felt in Tropical Africa.