on an 'agrarian society': discussion with Kenobi
Dear DK,
Thanx my brother, but I must say over to us all. The challenges ahead stare us all in the face, to bring our country's ship home...or at least genuinely strive to. I would also not say I am a 'veteran'. When people who have given their hearts, their souls, their strengths, their minds to the cause of a better society, from their youths still remain unbowed as 'senior citizens', the least we can do, is to keep the torch ablaze. When we fight, we fight not just for ourselves and the future of our children, we fight that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain and that our veterans shall have hope that they have not fought in vain. Our veterans are the Eskor Toyos, Hassan Summonus, Edwin Madunagus, Balarabe Musas, Baba Omojolas, Ali Chiromas, Gani Fawehinmis, Ishola Williams, Jonathan Ihondes, Toye Olorodes, Idowu Awopetus, Abayomi Feirreiras, Festus Iyayis...to mention a few, please.
I am more concerned here in discussing on your thesis on the place of agriculture for our country's moving forward in the comity of nations (I had initially abandoned the idea of responding to yours below earlier, since on one hand we are in agreement on the most basic assessment of the present being for us all: a time to stand up and speak and to gird our loin cloth and be ready! On the other hand, there have been quite a number of things to turn my attention to here and I believe that in the process of engagement with a systemic focus of moving forward on a platform or platforms bound by the same cause of action for transformation of Nigeria, debates on what we have to do to turn the country around would definitely unravel itself). This for me became even more pertinent as in your last posting you reiterated the earlier call for an agrarian society
I must say as I did earlier that I do not consider Agriculture as unimportant in any society, but we must ask ourselves: did 'industrialized societies and economies' merely evolve from 'agricultural ones' and as a necessity?
In the aftermath of World War II when de-colonization started, a lot of social scientists and policy-makers from Western countries, reiterated this view of modernization, that had been expounded even decades earlier. It went along the lines of positing a future evolution of the then emerging 'soveriegn' states that were largely agrarian and nonindustrial to with time become 'developed'. Related to it where echoes of Ricardo's 'comparative advantage' (e.g. since we have such fertile lands to plant cocoa, palm oil and ground nuts, why don't we focus on that, rather than thinking of micro-chips or cars production?). So, they were to sell their primary products, accumulate capital through trade and subsequently plough these back into an industrialization process.
By the thirties, scholars and state functionaries in Latin America (particularly then in Brasil, with Gertuilo Vargas as President) were coming to the conclusion that this picture was somewaht an inadequate presentation of the reality which confronted their societies. The Great Depression of that decade saw the prices of primary products, coffee, especially, plummet like no man's business! Industrialization became a priority on the national agenda. Structuralist analyses of economics by leading liberal reformers on that continent then came up with the Prebisch-Singer thesis, to the effect that terms of trade in the international market tend to worsen to the detriment of 'agrarian societies' as you put it, as against manufactured commodities producing (industrialized) nations. By the 1950s, the conclusions of the thesis, inspired dependency theory, which shows how such becomes self-perpetuating within an international division of labour which can not but keep 'agrarian societies' as nations of hewers of wood and fetchers of water, rather than the myth that such would then lead to underdeveloped countries' modernization. While, much of dependency theory analyses have been been concerned with Latin America, Walter Rodney's How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, remains a classic of all times on the application of this theory to our continent. Coming closer home, I would say Claude Ake's works, could provide a clearer perspective of the dangers in an 'agrarian society' thesis, being at the heart of our programme for founding Nigeria anew.
It is also pertinent to give consideration to these questions: could it really be argued that we have pursued industrialization to the detriment of Agriculture?; why could it be that America the most industrialized nation of earth has probably the most advanced farming practices on the planet?
First, I think that we have not at any point in time in our country pursued industrialization at all, talk less of it being at the detriment of agriculture or anything whatsoever. Let us start with the Shagari example you gave. The problem was not that the empty battle cry for the steel mills at Aladja, Ajaokuta, Oshogbo..., was the problem, the problem goes much deeper to the utter irresponsibility of the thieving, shameless and visionless elites that were and are at the helm of our country's state. You might wish to recall that Green Revolution was an even louder mantra of those times! And this was supposed to have built on Operation Feed the Nation. But as we all know, there was no revolution in our agriculture and the country could not feed the nation. The closest we ever got to industrialization as a national project (which was the only way open for and every one of the countries that became industrialized in the era of late capitalism) was with the suppossed indigenization of the 1970s. The Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree of March 1972, which the Murtala/Obasanjo administration would also amend in 1976, left the fundamental aspects of the economy covering thirty three industries largely in the hands of foreign private interests.The establishment of the Nigeria Bank of industry and Commence through Decree No 22 of 1973 itself was not integrated into a conscious strategy for industrialization, as was the Banco do Brasil here for example [a similar thread runs through ALL the so-called Newly Industrialized Countries i.e industrialization as a conscious choice driven by a national elite seeking to 'catch up' with the west in ways more practicable (on the basis of a capitalist system..) than the route of an 'agrarian society' for example.].
Second, the relationship between industrialization and agriculture which you pointed out with America, actually points at the crux of my position somewhat. Industrialization does not entail jettisoning agriculture. For as long as we need to feed, agriculture would in some form or the other always exist as a sector of the economy. With industrialization though, even agriculture in a capitalist economy, becomes industrialized, subordinating it to the agro-industrial complex. Agriculture consequently becomes much more productive and efficient, as well!
Summing up, my very good friend, I would say that as we brainstorm on what options for Nigeria as a programmatic platform for mass mobilization, the need for an industrialization programme for Nigeria can not be over emphasized. My concern would be, how do we avoid or ameliorate the pangs of pain that goes with it and how would it be possible to pursue such a project now, when we did not during the Fordist era, when the Keynesian Welfare Nation State, made the developmental state fashionable and such interventionist projects more feasible? I am of the opinion that safeguarding such a project within the global context we live and ensuring that it does not lead to even greater inequalities ('socialist' China today ()with the USA, is one of the countries with the greatest economic divides in the world!) participatory democracy which involves, in fact is run by, those who work and create the social wealth and who would be the living driving force of such process is highly imperative. The working people, the mass of Nigerians, in my view, should be central to the formulation and implementation of policies towards this.
What we are talking of, does of course entail change, a through-going, transformative change, as we have been arguing on this serve, for example. And that presupposes our getting our acts right, by organizing and with a mobilizational strategy geared at enthroning popular-democratic power in Nigeria. I would say that the working paper from the March 21, meeting, which from Sam's earlier mail, we could have cause to believe would soon be presented, would be a worthwhile point of departure in this direction, while we continue to brainstorm together on our to build that new Nigeria, indeed another possible world of our dreams and hopes.
Have a wonderful weekend bro....and keep on keeping on.
Sincere regards,
Baba Aye
_______________________________________________________________________________
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009, 8:03 PM
Over to you Baba Aye!
You are a veteran and I respect those who have carried the torch when others were satisfied with the status quo. My foray into these matters is based on outrage…I had no interest in politics or the debates that came with it. I loved being isolated from it all… but there is a right time - an alignment of minds and purposes - a window of opportunity - a time to stand up and speak and to gird our loin cloth and be ready!
Industrialized societies and economies evolved from Agricultural ones - it was not a choice rather it is a necessity. This necessity is the unspoken need which creates tension in our lives - a creative restlessness that propels men to seek new ways to perform old things. Every single wave of innovation is based on this restlessness.
Party of our problem in Nigeria is that several millions have been lulled to sleep by the lack of a compelling vision for ourselves - our children - so we take all short cuts possible....
That we have lost the plot should be clear by now. I believe that when we have 24 hour electricity and think that we have reached the proverbial mountaintop, we will realize our journey has only started... new challenges will emerge and unless we are ready to deal with them, we will fall back (into the valley)
We thus need to create motion - a motion which serves our needs. We have needs which I believe a return to the land will fulfill. I may be wrong but a massive effort geared towards building an agricultural economy will create motion, and unleash a wave of positive social change. Maslow theory has been discredited by some theorists, but its simplicity could serve as a roadmap for our national planners: With a return to the land, people would have satisfied the lower order needs and focus on higher order needs.
On the senselessness of pursuing agriculture
The Mantra for Aladja Steel during Shagari's government was “No country develops without a steel mill” Even then as an undergraduate; I knew our timing was wrong - Steel mills in Pittsburgh were closing due to stiff competition from the Japanese. Were our leaders not following the news? If we needed steel we could sign cut throat contracts with those struggling mills....
The story of Aladja steel is the story of forced evolution - not based on necessity - but on sloganeering: "No country develops without a steel mill"
That may be true but no country develops a steel mill in the middle of a global steel glut! And certainly no country that cannot feed itself builds a steel mill. Shagari’s government was the government of ‘essential commodity’ – where rice, milk and sugar were rationed…
Besides we have pursued industrialization to the detriment of Agriculture. America the most industrialized nation of earth has probably the most advanced farming practices on the planet.
I strongly believe that land ownership is the blank slate upon which men and nations build their self-worth and write/rewrite their stories. Flying across Nigeria, we seen dense jungle and forests landing in the urban centers, we see people selling pure water.
We need to help create a vision for the people and not repeat old mantras. Besides what would the world rather buy from us: Cars or yams? Microprocessors or processed Cassava? Silicon chips or plantain chips?
If the government focuses on Agriculture first, Agriculture last, almost every other requirement will fall into place. Schools, electricity, roads, jobs, hospitals, Foreign exchange earnings, and savings.... challenges will remain - but these will be how to preserve, maintain and build upon our successes
I rest …
Don Kenobi
Thanx my brother, but I must say over to us all. The challenges ahead stare us all in the face, to bring our country's ship home...or at least genuinely strive to. I would also not say I am a 'veteran'. When people who have given their hearts, their souls, their strengths, their minds to the cause of a better society, from their youths still remain unbowed as 'senior citizens', the least we can do, is to keep the torch ablaze. When we fight, we fight not just for ourselves and the future of our children, we fight that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain and that our veterans shall have hope that they have not fought in vain. Our veterans are the Eskor Toyos, Hassan Summonus, Edwin Madunagus, Balarabe Musas, Baba Omojolas, Ali Chiromas, Gani Fawehinmis, Ishola Williams, Jonathan Ihondes, Toye Olorodes, Idowu Awopetus, Abayomi Feirreiras, Festus Iyayis...to mention a few, please.
I am more concerned here in discussing on your thesis on the place of agriculture for our country's moving forward in the comity of nations (I had initially abandoned the idea of responding to yours below earlier, since on one hand we are in agreement on the most basic assessment of the present being for us all: a time to stand up and speak and to gird our loin cloth and be ready! On the other hand, there have been quite a number of things to turn my attention to here and I believe that in the process of engagement with a systemic focus of moving forward on a platform or platforms bound by the same cause of action for transformation of Nigeria, debates on what we have to do to turn the country around would definitely unravel itself). This for me became even more pertinent as in your last posting you reiterated the earlier call for an agrarian society
I must say as I did earlier that I do not consider Agriculture as unimportant in any society, but we must ask ourselves: did 'industrialized societies and economies' merely evolve from 'agricultural ones' and as a necessity?
In the aftermath of World War II when de-colonization started, a lot of social scientists and policy-makers from Western countries, reiterated this view of modernization, that had been expounded even decades earlier. It went along the lines of positing a future evolution of the then emerging 'soveriegn' states that were largely agrarian and nonindustrial to with time become 'developed'. Related to it where echoes of Ricardo's 'comparative advantage' (e.g. since we have such fertile lands to plant cocoa, palm oil and ground nuts, why don't we focus on that, rather than thinking of micro-chips or cars production?). So, they were to sell their primary products, accumulate capital through trade and subsequently plough these back into an industrialization process.
By the thirties, scholars and state functionaries in Latin America (particularly then in Brasil, with Gertuilo Vargas as President) were coming to the conclusion that this picture was somewaht an inadequate presentation of the reality which confronted their societies. The Great Depression of that decade saw the prices of primary products, coffee, especially, plummet like no man's business! Industrialization became a priority on the national agenda. Structuralist analyses of economics by leading liberal reformers on that continent then came up with the Prebisch-Singer thesis, to the effect that terms of trade in the international market tend to worsen to the detriment of 'agrarian societies' as you put it, as against manufactured commodities producing (industrialized) nations. By the 1950s, the conclusions of the thesis, inspired dependency theory, which shows how such becomes self-perpetuating within an international division of labour which can not but keep 'agrarian societies' as nations of hewers of wood and fetchers of water, rather than the myth that such would then lead to underdeveloped countries' modernization. While, much of dependency theory analyses have been been concerned with Latin America, Walter Rodney's How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, remains a classic of all times on the application of this theory to our continent. Coming closer home, I would say Claude Ake's works, could provide a clearer perspective of the dangers in an 'agrarian society' thesis, being at the heart of our programme for founding Nigeria anew.
It is also pertinent to give consideration to these questions: could it really be argued that we have pursued industrialization to the detriment of Agriculture?; why could it be that America the most industrialized nation of earth has probably the most advanced farming practices on the planet?
First, I think that we have not at any point in time in our country pursued industrialization at all, talk less of it being at the detriment of agriculture or anything whatsoever. Let us start with the Shagari example you gave. The problem was not that the empty battle cry for the steel mills at Aladja, Ajaokuta, Oshogbo..., was the problem, the problem goes much deeper to the utter irresponsibility of the thieving, shameless and visionless elites that were and are at the helm of our country's state. You might wish to recall that Green Revolution was an even louder mantra of those times! And this was supposed to have built on Operation Feed the Nation. But as we all know, there was no revolution in our agriculture and the country could not feed the nation. The closest we ever got to industrialization as a national project (which was the only way open for and every one of the countries that became industrialized in the era of late capitalism) was with the suppossed indigenization of the 1970s. The Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree of March 1972, which the Murtala/Obasanjo administration would also amend in 1976, left the fundamental aspects of the economy covering thirty three industries largely in the hands of foreign private interests.The establishment of the Nigeria Bank of industry and Commence through Decree No 22 of 1973 itself was not integrated into a conscious strategy for industrialization, as was the Banco do Brasil here for example [a similar thread runs through ALL the so-called Newly Industrialized Countries i.e industrialization as a conscious choice driven by a national elite seeking to 'catch up' with the west in ways more practicable (on the basis of a capitalist system..) than the route of an 'agrarian society' for example.].
Second, the relationship between industrialization and agriculture which you pointed out with America, actually points at the crux of my position somewhat. Industrialization does not entail jettisoning agriculture. For as long as we need to feed, agriculture would in some form or the other always exist as a sector of the economy. With industrialization though, even agriculture in a capitalist economy, becomes industrialized, subordinating it to the agro-industrial complex. Agriculture consequently becomes much more productive and efficient, as well!
Summing up, my very good friend, I would say that as we brainstorm on what options for Nigeria as a programmatic platform for mass mobilization, the need for an industrialization programme for Nigeria can not be over emphasized. My concern would be, how do we avoid or ameliorate the pangs of pain that goes with it and how would it be possible to pursue such a project now, when we did not during the Fordist era, when the Keynesian Welfare Nation State, made the developmental state fashionable and such interventionist projects more feasible? I am of the opinion that safeguarding such a project within the global context we live and ensuring that it does not lead to even greater inequalities ('socialist' China today ()with the USA, is one of the countries with the greatest economic divides in the world!) participatory democracy which involves, in fact is run by, those who work and create the social wealth and who would be the living driving force of such process is highly imperative. The working people, the mass of Nigerians, in my view, should be central to the formulation and implementation of policies towards this.
What we are talking of, does of course entail change, a through-going, transformative change, as we have been arguing on this serve, for example. And that presupposes our getting our acts right, by organizing and with a mobilizational strategy geared at enthroning popular-democratic power in Nigeria. I would say that the working paper from the March 21, meeting, which from Sam's earlier mail, we could have cause to believe would soon be presented, would be a worthwhile point of departure in this direction, while we continue to brainstorm together on our to build that new Nigeria, indeed another possible world of our dreams and hopes.
Have a wonderful weekend bro....and keep on keeping on.
Sincere regards,
Baba Aye
_______________________________________________________________________________
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009, 8:03 PM
Over to you Baba Aye!
You are a veteran and I respect those who have carried the torch when others were satisfied with the status quo. My foray into these matters is based on outrage…I had no interest in politics or the debates that came with it. I loved being isolated from it all… but there is a right time - an alignment of minds and purposes - a window of opportunity - a time to stand up and speak and to gird our loin cloth and be ready!
Industrialized societies and economies evolved from Agricultural ones - it was not a choice rather it is a necessity. This necessity is the unspoken need which creates tension in our lives - a creative restlessness that propels men to seek new ways to perform old things. Every single wave of innovation is based on this restlessness.
Party of our problem in Nigeria is that several millions have been lulled to sleep by the lack of a compelling vision for ourselves - our children - so we take all short cuts possible....
That we have lost the plot should be clear by now. I believe that when we have 24 hour electricity and think that we have reached the proverbial mountaintop, we will realize our journey has only started... new challenges will emerge and unless we are ready to deal with them, we will fall back (into the valley)
We thus need to create motion - a motion which serves our needs. We have needs which I believe a return to the land will fulfill. I may be wrong but a massive effort geared towards building an agricultural economy will create motion, and unleash a wave of positive social change. Maslow theory has been discredited by some theorists, but its simplicity could serve as a roadmap for our national planners: With a return to the land, people would have satisfied the lower order needs and focus on higher order needs.
On the senselessness of pursuing agriculture
The Mantra for Aladja Steel during Shagari's government was “No country develops without a steel mill” Even then as an undergraduate; I knew our timing was wrong - Steel mills in Pittsburgh were closing due to stiff competition from the Japanese. Were our leaders not following the news? If we needed steel we could sign cut throat contracts with those struggling mills....
The story of Aladja steel is the story of forced evolution - not based on necessity - but on sloganeering: "No country develops without a steel mill"
That may be true but no country develops a steel mill in the middle of a global steel glut! And certainly no country that cannot feed itself builds a steel mill. Shagari’s government was the government of ‘essential commodity’ – where rice, milk and sugar were rationed…
Besides we have pursued industrialization to the detriment of Agriculture. America the most industrialized nation of earth has probably the most advanced farming practices on the planet.
I strongly believe that land ownership is the blank slate upon which men and nations build their self-worth and write/rewrite their stories. Flying across Nigeria, we seen dense jungle and forests landing in the urban centers, we see people selling pure water.
We need to help create a vision for the people and not repeat old mantras. Besides what would the world rather buy from us: Cars or yams? Microprocessors or processed Cassava? Silicon chips or plantain chips?
If the government focuses on Agriculture first, Agriculture last, almost every other requirement will fall into place. Schools, electricity, roads, jobs, hospitals, Foreign exchange earnings, and savings.... challenges will remain - but these will be how to preserve, maintain and build upon our successes
I rest …
Don Kenobi
Comments