Towards an African Political Philosophy of Needs

This book focuses on the domains of moral philosophy, political philosophy, and political theory within African philosophy. At the heart of the volume is a call to imagine African political philosophy as embodying a needs-based political vision. While discourses in African political philosophy have fixated on the normative framework of human rights law to articulate demands for social and global justice, this book charts a new frontier in African political thought by turning from ‘rights’ to ‘needs.’ The authors aim to re-orient discourses in African philosophy beyond the impasse of rights-based confrontations to shift the conversation toward needs as a cornerstone of African political theory.

1. Introduction to African Political Theory of Needs

2. The Need for Others in Public Policy: An African Approach

3. Afro-Communitarianism Personhood and the Political Philosophy of Needs

4. Personhood, Dignity, Duties and Needs in African Philosophy

5. Social Persons and the Normativity of Needs

6. Understanding and (Re)configuring Personhood Contra Systematic Dehumanization

7. Uncovering Needs in African Thought Through Igbo Proverbs on Lack, Care and Duty

8. Prioritization of Clashing Needs in African Politics

9. Needs, Representation and Institutional Change in Africa

10. Duty to Human Needs from African Rights.

Motsamai Molefe is a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Leadership Ethics in Africa, at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa.

Christopher Allsobrook is Director of the Centre for Leadership Ethics in Africa at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa, where he is also leader of the Humanities Research Niche Area in ‘Democracy, Heritage and Citizenship.’