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2024 - Volume 8 - Number 2

Between Violence and Nonviolence as Tools for Liberation in Africa

Ndukaku Okorie * ORCID: 0000-0003-3098-3303
Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Philosophy, Ile-Ife, NIGERIA

Open Journal for Studies in Philosophy, 2024, 8(2), 89-98 * https://doi.org/10.32591/coas.ojsp.0802.02089o
Received: 5 July 2024 ▪ Revised: 16 November 2024 ▪ Accepted: 23 November 2024

LICENCE: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

ARTICLE (Full Text - PDF)

ABSTRACT:
Political theory as the study and systematic speculation of the writer or an author about the phenomena of the state has really served as models for explanation of the political reality and conditions of the people. Political philosophers and theorists through political theories have raised questions about “what should be the relationship between the state and the citizens?”, “How do we organize human societies?”, “what is the best principle or ideology for regulating the actual human society?”, among others. In the modern era, we have seen nations, political communities; postcolonial societies and indigenous peoples battle for political cum territorial sovereignty and self-determination. Different political theories, ideologies, methodologies and experiences; both colonial and postcolonial have shaped liberation struggles. The dimensions that the struggles have taken are informed and shaped by political theories and ideologies inherited from colonial mentality and residue. However, two prominent methodologies have played out in African struggles, these are violence and nonviolence. Each of these methodologies have manifested in different parts of Africa owing to the prevalent political theory embraced, in some Arab nations and other parts of the world, especially nations that went through colonialism. In spite of myriads of political theories on how best to organize human society, the establishment of a “perfect” or “ideal” political society has always eluded human beings. In this regard, I intend to examine the roles of violence and nonviolence as tools in liberation struggle for political and territorial sovereignty and self-determination. In doing this, I will be arguing that though violence and nonviolence are effective tools for achieving peace and liberation, depending on the prevailing circumstances, nonviolence is a better and more pragmatic alternative. The case for nonviolence would be drawn and anchored on some cultural values known in various African societies. This paper will draw from the concept and principle of UBUNTU – which means I am because we are. That is, I am only a human being because of other human beings such that when I inflict pain on others, I am also inflicting pain on myself. The paper concludes that nonviolence as a method anchored on some African values, such as Ubuntu, will set a better model for the best life.

KEY WORDS: Africa, liberation of Africa, non-violence, violence.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Ndukaku Okorie, Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Philosophy, Ile-Ife, NIGERIA.

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