2007/2008 COURSE CATALOGUE

NAIROBI, KENYA

Course: MARY AFST 586: Sociology of Development/Underdevelopment and African Religion

Course Overview:
This course interrelates various religions in East Africa and the socioeconomic development in colonial and postcolonial periods. It sees religion as a key factor in sustainable development and draws on concrete examples from Africa. Directed field research will bring the students into direct contact with development leaders and projects in Kenya. 

Course Description:
Until recently, religion was seen from various perspectives as an insignificant in the economic and political dimensions of life. Many Marxists dismissed it as a mere ideological tool of the ruling classes over the poor. Modernizers on the other hand saw the connection at most as an indirect one with religion contributing to the changing of people's attitude ands and personalities. This course aims at showing the direct connection between religion and the economic and political development of the people's of East Africa. It will do this based upon a theoretical framework of articulated modes of production. Both the explicit and implicit connections between traditional, Christian and Islamic religions with economic and political development will be explored. 

Students will also participate in field research aimed at understanding the various approaches to development at both micro and macro level. This will include interviews with ministerial level personnel, international aid agencies as well as people involved in grassroots socioeconomic projects. 

Course Outline:

1. The Sociology of Development

a. Functionalism and Modernization
b. Basic Needs Approach
c. Marxism and Modes of Production

2. Religion and fundamentalism of the economy

a. Approach, Leadership, Values and Governance.

b. Understanding African Traditional Religion

i. The oneness of life
ii. African Cosmology and Development

3. Understanding African Religion

a. The nature of God and concept of evil .
b. African cosmology and development 

5. Origin of African dependency 

a. Colonial intrusion and modernization 
b. Cultural imperialism 
c. The coming of Christianity

d. The coming of Islam 

4. Towards an African Christian Theology of Development

a. African Christian Theology's Understanding.
b. Liberation Theology's Understanding
c. Towards an African Christian Theology of Development

d. Towards an African theology of development: the question of Ujamaa.

5. Socioeconomic development: "The New Religion"

a. Development as an ideology 
b. Developmentalism: An ideology? 
c. The rise of development studies 

d. Historical background and continuity 

e. constraints to socioeconomic development: The question

 of identity 

f. Tribal/cultural mosaic of African nations 

g. Elite stratification and competition

 

Definition of Development

Theories of Development 

Theories of underdevelopment 

The manifestations of underdevelopment 

Religion and Fundamentals of Economic Growth approach, values, leadership and governance. 

Understanding African Religion: The nature of God and concept of Evil

African Cosmology and development

Origins of African dependency

Colonial intrusion and "modernization"

Cultural Imperialism 

The coming of Christianity and Islam

Socioeconomic development. "The New Religion"

Development as an Ideology 

Development as Freedom

Developmentalism: An Ideology? 

The rise of development studies 

Historical background and continuity 

Constraints to socioeconomic development

Tribal/cultural mosaic of Africa nations

Constraints to Socioeconomic development: The question of Identity 

Towards an African Theology of development: The question of Ujamaa

Towards an African Theology of development: Liberation Theology

The role of monotheistic religion in development 

Charting new directions in African development 

Re-thinking African religion, development and dependency 

SELECTED BOOKS

Achola, P.W, Mondoh, H., Shiundu, J & Ng'ong'ah, B.G.(Eds). (2004). Governance, Society and Development in Kenya. Eldoret: Moi University Press. 

Bourdillon, M.  (1992). Religion and Society. Zimbabwe: Mambo Press. 

Charles Elliot. (1987). Comfortable Compassion: Poverty, Power, and the Church. London: Hodder and Stoughton. 

Cromwell, David (2002). Private Planet: Corporate Plunder and the Fight Back.

Hancock, Graham. (1991). The Lords of Poverty. London: Mandarin.

Leys, C. (1996). The Rise and Fall of Development Theory. Indiana: Indiana University Pres.  

Mazrui, A. (1990). Cultural Forces in World Politics. London: Heinemann. 

Mpagi, P.W. (2002). African Christian Theology in the Contemporary Context. Kisubi, Uganda: Marianum Press Limited.  

Otto, M.(1982). Religion and Social Conflicts. New York: Orbis Books.

Ritzer, George. (1999). Enchanting a Disenchanted World: Revolutionizing the means of Consumption. California: Pine Forge Press. 

Rodney, Walter. (1989). How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Nairobi: Heinemann.

Taylor, John.  (1979). From Modernization to Modes of Production: a Critique of the Sociologies of Development and underdevelopment. London: Macmillan Press.

Westerlund, David. (1980). Ujamaa na Dini: A Study of Some Aspects of Society and Religion in Tanzania, 1961 - 1977. Stockholm: Almquist and Wiksell International. 

Webster, Andrew. (1984). Introduction to the Sociology of Development. London: Macmillan Education. 

Wim van Binsbergen and Schoffeleers, Matthew. (1985). Theoretical Explorations in African Religion. London: Kegan Paul Inc. 

Wim van Binsbergan. (1985). Old Modes of Production and Capitalist Encroachment. London: Kegan Paul Inc. 

Sen, Amartya Kumar (2001). Development as Freedom. New York: Oxford University Press.