What are the origins of inequality? World history is here seen through the lens of production: before agriculture, agriculture without and then with cities, after agriculture, each phase marked by revolutions. How does Africa relate to this sch

Lecture 1. Introduction: Africa in the World

Aug 11th, 2014 45m 56s

Why these lectures are improvised. World history seen from an African perspective. Why this is needed. African critiques of European capitalist imperialism from the viewpoints of nationalism and socialism.Cheikh Anta Diop The African Origins

Lecture 3. Africa and the Ancient Mediterranean

Aug 11th, 2014 52m 10s

Bernal’s critique of Eurocentric history as a racist project of social exclusion. The Eastern Mediterranean distorted by regional specialization. The urban revolution seen in wider comparative perspective. Jack Goody’s application of Childe to

Lecture 5. The African Diaspora

Aug 11th, 2014 53m 40s

Dubois’ great assemblage aims to touch hearts and not just minds. The issue of the 20th century is the ‘colour line’. The meaning of ‘soul’, ‘veil’ and ‘double consciousness’. Dubois’ later history takes him from integration to separation. Refl

Lecture 4. Atlantic Slavery and the Haitian Revolution

Aug 11th, 2014 28m 52s

Recording curtailed (see unpublished essays above). C L R James synthesizes Western Marxism and postcolonial theory. His history of the Haitian revolution brought it back into world history and inspired his own vision of the anti-colonial and w

Lecture 6. Colonial Empire and the World Economy

Aug 11th, 2014 53m 40s

Diversion on method: scaling up the self, scaling down the world (Shakespeare, Gandhi). The Lewis model is traced to theories of development that hinge on the rural-urban division of labour. A racist world society divided between rich and poor

Lecture 8. The Anti-colonial Revolution

Aug 11th, 2014 49m 48s

The main event of the twentieth century was the anti-colonial revolution. Fanon says that war is the normal catalyst of social change; but his psychiatric case studies shows that war is humanly insupportable. Brilliant writing on the class stru

Lecture 9. Independence and “Development”

Aug 11th, 2014 51m 13s

From evolution to development. The post-war boom of developmental states. The neoliberal counter-revolution. ‘Development’ is now just talk without real economic improvement. Capitalism enriches and destroys society (Schumpeter). The 1970s as t

Lecture 7. Panafricanism

Aug 11th, 2014 50m 11s

What is Panafricanism? James reviews African revolt on both sides of the Atlantic, concludes that Africa is ready for an anti-colonial revolution now. Race + capitalism is dynamite. Revolution in Africa and world revolution.C L R James The Hi

Lecture 10. The State in Africa

Aug 11th, 2014 48m 38s

Three social types: egalitarian kinship, agrarian civilization, national capitalism. Sketch of the state in Africa before colonial empire. Colonial and post-colonial states. The privatization of public interests. Collusion between African ruler

Lecture 11. South Africa: an Exception?

Aug 11th, 2014 48m 2s

A case study of national capitalism. An outline history of South Africa: creation and persistence of a racist mining enclave. Afrikaner and ANC strategies compared. Transition to a modern economy blocked (Feinstein). After the Mining Energy Com

Lecture 12. Africa in the 21st Century World

Aug 11th, 2014 52m

What happened in Africa during the last century, as against what didn’t happen (‘development’). Africa’s regions and African unity. Population and urban explosion. The Old Regime and liberal revolution (Tocqueville). Everyday harassment. Develo

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