The post‐colonial state and its’ Tanzanian version

Abstract

Joining debate with Alavi, Leys and Saul, it is argued here that to analyse the post colonial state it is necessary to know not only generally which classes influence it, but the effect these classes have on the state and society and the relative position of each. A distinction should be made between the ruling class and the governing class, the former having always been the metropolitan bourgeoisie, while the latter has developed from the colonial administration to the post‐colonial State with a sophisticated array of instruments to control society, including the development of a form of state monopoly capitalism. An analysis of the Tanzanian state illustrates this argument. The rise to power of the new governing class, the nizers (Africanders) is examined to show that the various ‘progressive’ measures undertaken by the State (nationalisation, ‘socialist’ villages) have been methods adopted by the governing class to extend its control. Whatever the anti‐capitalist nature of the ideology, and the well‐meaning activities of individual socialist intellectuals, this process has only served to strengthen the domination of the ruling class — the international bourgeoisie.