NORDISKA IKAINSTITUTET 2-07-13 PSALA rep no. David Westeriund From Socialism to Islam? Notes on Islam as a Political Factor in Contemporary Africa RESEARCH REPORTS Below you will find a list of Research Reports pu­ 19. Jensen, Peter Föge, Soviet Research on Afri­ blished by the institute. Same of the reports are ca. With special reference to international rela­ unfortunately out of print. Xero-copies of these tions. 68 pp. Uppsala 1973. ISBN 91-7106-070-7. reports can be obtained at a eost of Skr. 0:50 per (OUT-OF-PRINT) page. 20. Sj östr öm, Rolf &. Margareta, YDLC -A litera­ I. Meyer-Heiselberg, R., Nates from Liberated cy Campaign in Ethiopia. 72 pp. Uppsala 1973. African Department in the Archives at Fourah ISBN 91-7106-071-5. (OUT-OF-PRINT) Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone. 61 pp. Upp­ sala 1967. (OUT-OF-PRINT) 21. Ndongko, Wilfred A., Regional Economic Plan­ ning in Cameroon. 21 pp. Uppsala 1974. Skr. 5:-. 2. Not published. ISBN 91-7106-073-1. 3. Carlsson, Gunnar, Benthonic Fauna in African 22. Pipping-van Hulten, Ida, An Episode of Coloni­ Watercourses with Special Reference to Black Fly al History: The German Press in Tanzania 1901­ Populations. 13 pp. Uppsala 1968. (OUT-OF­ 1914. 47 pp. Uppsala 1974. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91-7106­ PRINT) 077-4. 4. Eldblom, Lars, Land Tenure - Social Organisa­ 23. Magnusson, Äke, Swedish Investments in South tion and Structure. 18 pp. Uppsala 1969. (OUT-OF­ Africa. 57 pp. Uppsala 1974. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91­ PRINT) 7106-078-2. 5. Bjeren, Gunilla, Makelle Eiementary School 24. Nellis, John R., The Ethnic Composition of Drop-out 1967. 80 pp. Uppsala 1969. (OUT-OF­ Leading Kenyan Government Positions. 26 pp. Upp­ PRINT) sala 1974. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91-71 06-079-0. 6. Möberg, Jens, Peter, Repart Concerning th~ 25. Francke, Anita, Kibaha Farmers' Training Cent­ Soil Profite Investigation and Collection of Sod re. Impact Study t965-1968. 106 pp. Uppsala 1974. SampJes in the West Lake Region of Tanzania. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91-7106-081-2. 44 pp. Uppsala 1970. (OUT-OF- PRINT) 26. AasJand, Tertit, On the-Move-to-the-Left in 7. Selinus, Ruth, The Traditional Foods of the Uganda 1969-1971. 71 pp. Uppsala 1974. Skr 5:-. Central Ethiopian Highlands. 34 pp. 1971. (OUT­ ISBN 9 I-71 06-083-9. OF-PR.INT) 27. Kirk-Greene, A.H.M., The Genesis of the Nige­ 8. Hägg, Ingemund, Same State-controlled Industri­ rian Civil War and the Theory of Fear. 32 pp. ai Companies in Tanzania. A case study. 18 pp. Uppsala 1975. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91-7106-085-5. Uppsala 1971. 28. Okereke, Okoro, Agrarian DeveJopment Pro­ 9. Bjeren, Gunilla, Some Theoretical and Metha­ gram mes of African Countries. 20 pp. Uppsala dologicaJ Aspects of the Study of African Urbani­ 1975. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91-7106-086-3. zation. 38 pp. Uppsala 1971. (OUT-OF-PRINT) 29. Kjekshus, Helge, The Elected Elite. A Socio­ 10. Linne, Olga, An Evaluation of Kenya Science Economic Profile of Candidates in Tanzania's Par­ Teacher's College. 67 pp. Uppsala 1971. liamentary Election, 1970. 40 pp. Uppsala 1975. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91-7106-087-1. II. NelJis, John R., Who Pays Tax in Kenya? 22 pp. Uppsala 1972. 30. Frantz, Charles. Pastoral Societies, Stratifica­ tian and National Integration in Africa. 34 pp. 12. Bondestam, Lars, Population Growth Contral Uppsala 1975. ISBN 91-7106-088-X. (OUT-OF­ in Kenya. 59 pp. Uppsala 1972. PRINT) L3. Hall, Budd L., Wakati Wa Furaha. An Evalua­ 31. Esh, Tina &. Rosenblum, Illith, Tourism in De­ tion of a Radio Study Group Campaign. 47 pp. veloping Countries - Trick or Treat? AReport Uppsala 1973. from the Gambia. 80 pp. Uppsala 1975. ISBN 91­ 7106-094-4. (OUT-OF-PRINT) 14. Ståhl, Michael, Contradictians in Agriculturai Development. A Study of Three Minimum Package 32. Clayton, Anthony, The 1948 Zanzibar General Projects in Southern Ethiopia. 65 pp. Uppsala Strike. 66 pp. Uppsala 1976. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91­ 1973. 7106-094-4. 15. Linne, Olga, An Evaluation of Kenya Science 33. Pipping, Knut, Land Holding in the Usangu Teachers College. Phase II 1970-71. 91 pp. Uppsa­ Plain. A survey of two villages in the Southern la 1973. Skr. 5:-. Highlands of Tanzania. l22 pp. Uppsala 1976. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91-7106-097-9. 16. Lodhi, Abduiaziz Y., The Lnstitution of Slavery in lanzibar and Pemba. 40 pp. Uppsala 1973. 34. Lundstr.öm, Karl Johan, North-eastern Ethiopi­ ISBN 91-7106-066-9. (OUT-OF-PRINT) a: Society in Famine. A study of three social in­ stitutions in a period of severe strain. 80 pp. Upp­ 17. Lundqvist, Jan, The Economic Structure of Mo­ sala 1976. ISBN 91-7106-098-7. (OUT-OF-PRINT) rogoro Town. 70 pp. Uppsala 1973. ISBN 91-7106­ 068-5. (OUT-OF-PRINT) 35. Magnusson, Äke, The Voice of South Africa. 55 pp. Uppsala 1976. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91-7106-106-1. 18. Bondestam, Lars, Same Nates on African Sta­ tistics. Collection, reliability and interpretation. 36. Ghai, Yash P., Refiection on Law and Econam­ 59 pp. Uppsala 1973. ISBN 91-7106-069-4. (OUT­ ic Integration in East Africa. 41 pp. Uppsala OF-PRINT) 1976. Skr. 5:-. ISBN 91-7106-105-3. NORDISKA AFRIKAINSTITUTET N o 'l.DlSKA AFR' . ~STITUTET 1982 -07-1 3 ',LA UPPSALA FROM SOCIALISM TO ISLAM? Notes on Islam as a Political Factor in Contemporary Africa Table of Contents Page Preface 5 I. Introduction 6 II. The Advance of Socialism in Muslim-dominated Countries 13 1. Islamic Countries 13 2. Predominantly Muslim Countries 19 3. Principle Characteristics of Islamic and African 22 Socialism 4. Discussion 24 5. Conclusion 33 III. The Move towards Islam 36 1. Islamic Countries 36 2. Predominantly Muslim Countries 43 3. Principle Characteristics of Fundamentalist Islam 45 4. Discussion 47 5. Conclusion 53 References 54 Research Report No. 61 David WesterIund FROM SOCIALISM TO ISLAM? The Scandinavian Institute of African Studies Uppsala 1982 ISSN 0080-6714 ISBN 91-7106-20)-) © David \~esterlund 1982 Printed in Sweden by Motala Grafiska AB Motala 1982 5 PREFACE The Islamic advance in world politics is by now a well-known phenomenon. There is a growing awareness in the West that Islam is "not merely a religion" (in a Western attenuated sense). In particular, the dramatic events in Iran during the last few years have contributed to increasing interest in and knowledge of Islam among various scholars, journalists and others. In Africa, Islam's political advance has been less dramatic, less far-reaching, but there are signs of it all over this continent as well. The aim of this essay is to describe and discuss some aspects of the political significance of Islam in contemporary Africa. Since I have aimed at a wide circle of readers rather than at a few scholars with a more specialized knowledge of Islam, I have chosen to leave out the diacritical marks of Islamic terms used. These terms are also explained briefly within parenthesis the first time they occur in the text. There are, of necessity, some simplifica­ tions, and when generalizations are made, it is not always possible to describe all exceptions. For those who would like to study cer­ tain aspects or countries in a more comprehensive way, the exten­ sive list of references may serve as a guidance. For financial assistance enabling me to complete this report I am indebted to "Nordiska Samarbetskommitten för Internationell Politik, inklusive konflikt- och fredsforskning". C.J. Steed (London), V. Cornell, M.W. McLeod, A. Marsot (Los Angeles), J. Hjärpe (Lund), J. Copans, G. Nicolas (Paris), H. Hunke (Rome) , I. Elander, C. Hedin, M. Hudäk (Stockholm), J. Bergman, M. Ståhl, Z. ~ervenka (Uppsala) and L. Rasmussen (Ärhus) have all assisted me in one way or the other. I therefore express my gratitude. All the shortcomings that remain are, of course, my own responsibility. Stockholm in November 1981 David Westerlund 6 I. INTRODUCTION In this introductory chapter I will explain my use of the terms "socialism" and "Islam". Then follows an account of the approach and limitations of the study. Finally, there is a brief historical description of Islam in Africa, supplemented with a map illustrating its distribution on this continent. Main Concepts In post-colonial times most African countries with a majority of Muslims have had (longer or shorter) periods of socialism. It has not, however, been a socialism based on, but rather one opposed to, Marxism or Marxism-Leninism. This socialism has been designated "Islamic" (or "Arab") in North Africa and "African" in black Africa. These two non-Marxist varieties of socialism are not identical. They are remarkably similar, how­ ever, and in this study I am more concerned with the similari­ ties, and a discussion of their possible affinity to Islam, than with the differences. Islamic and African socialism refutes the Marxist idea of class struggle and urges all social groups to cooperate harmo­ niously in the interest of economic development and nation­ building. The economy is "mixed" and not socialist in a Marx­ ist sense. Partiai nationalization, central planning and one­ party rule are characteristic features. Equality is a proclaimed goal, but it is to be achieved by way of sharing out rather than abolishing private property. Social reforms, such as the creation of secular schools and new legislation aiming at new roles of women, manifest a secularizinqtendency, although socialism is not anti-religious but rather, at least in part, based on (a modernist interpretation of) religion. Uniess another meaning is specified, the term "socialism" will henceforth refer to this type of socialism. Chapter II of the study is concerned with the development of socialism and its relation to Islam, and in chapter III I am dealing with the evidence for a move from socialism towards a fundamentalist conception of Islam.