Some positive aspects of neo-liberalism for African development: The revival of solidarity in co-operatives

Abstract

The history of cooperative development in Africa has left a mixed conception of these organizations. Whereas some observers regard them to be neither voluntary nor members’ organizations, but extensions of the government; others view them as capitalist extensions of the market that are dominated by a class bent on exploiting the poor farmers. This contradictory conception of cooperatives has raised the question as to whether cooperatives in Africa foster the social and solidarity economy that they are conceptually part of and with what effect on development. This paper attempts to show some positive side of neo-liberalism in African development by tracing the fall of solidarity, and therefore the ambivalent participation, in African cooperatives and show the on-going rekindling of solidarity in, and revitalization of, cooperatives to effectively contribute to socio-economic development on the continent. Using the available secondary data, it is argued that though cooperatives are essentially elements of the social and solidarity economy, state control over the cooperative movement eroded the solidarity of cooperators in Africa. The state stifled people’s freedom to think in their best interest and invest in businesses that could generate returns to help them solve their socio-economic problems. With ambivalent participation and little returns on their activities, cooperatives lacked the capital to entrench the social and solidarity economy in African development. Though neo-liberalism has had its downturn in African development, it has created space for cooperatives to reclaim their freedom and re-engineer solidarity among members to effectively participate in the activities of their organization. This new-found freedom has also enabled cooperatives to forge productive partnerships that have enabled them not only to improve their capital base, but also to find markets for their products. The result has been improved performance and significant contribution to the improvement of living conditions among members and sometimes the community as well. This is evidence that neo-liberalism has had some positive side by rekindling solidarity in cooperatives, which, in turn, are improving living conditions in Africa.