Journal of Social Development in Africa (1997), 13,1,85-94 
Book Reviews 
Globalization and Social Policy in Africa: Issues and Research Directions, 
Tade Akin Aina, CODESRIA, Dakar, Senegal (1997) ISSN: 0850-8895 (p/b), 92 
pp, US$8. 
Introduction 
Tade Akin Aina's working paper on Globalization and Social Policy in Africa: 
Issues and Research Directions provides a critical and certainly an interesting reexamination 
of the now popular 'buzzword' of globalization especially as itrelates 
to the nature and dynamics of social policy in Africa. Although a fair amount of 
information already exists on precisely what the concept of globalization is 
concerned with, not much critical and analytical work in the context of the African 
experience exists. In this regard then, Aina's proposed study must be a relevant and 
timely study and one which will be useful not only to policy makers, but in the 
provision of a deeper understanding of economic and social phenomena implied 
in the globalization process. 
The author begins by defining the concept of globalization, showing the 
divergences in theoretical perceptions about the phenomenon and explaining the 
basis upon which a broader framework for understanding the concept must be 
established. His carefully selected and fairly extensive choice of the current 
literature on the issue provides a balanced understanding of the divergences of 
opinion in this field. The author's objective critique succeeds in the deglorification 
of the concept of globalization. His critical examination of the other side of the 
coin, namely, the ugly side of the issue, in a sense does revive certain fundamentals 
embodied in Amin's centre-periphery debate and Frank's Development ofunderdevelopment. 
Aina's point of emphasis differs somewhat from the aforementioned 
theorists largely in the manner in which he assesses the relationship between 
globalization and social policy. 
Social policy is defined both as a theoretical and empirical issue. It is treated as 
the dependent variable in the broader framework of globalization. The role of 
"State-Society, State-Economy Relations, Inequality and Poverty, Gender Relations, 
Economic Restructuring and Social Change and Citizenship Rights" in 
shaping a deeper understanding of globalization and social policy are discussed. 
The relationship between globalization and social policy underscores the 
primary focus of the paper. The analysis of this relationship begins by providing 
a critical appraisal of conventional approaches which tend to undermine or 
underplay important social issues such as inequality, gender relations, poverty and
86 Book Reviews 
citizenship and human rights, to name a few. As the author puts it, social policy 
must be analysed, "in terms of its history, nature, dynamics and relationships not 
only with internal forces, various forms of social relations and structures, but also 
as they are affected by external pressures and dynamics." 
The ultimate objective of the working paper is to identify key issues of research 
around the theme of globalization and social policy. Three broad research themes 
are identified, namely: 
a) Development, Globalization and Social Policy-Making in Africa. 
b) External Influence and Social Policy. 
c) Globalization, Social Policy and the State and Society. 
An in-depth analysis of these themes is aimed at the re-examination of social policy 
issues in Africa in terms of origin, design and effectiveness. 
The Concept of Globalization 
The author presents a divergence of views and perceptions on the issue of 
globalization. Proponents of globalization have tended to glorify this phenomenon, 
focussing mainly on what Tade Akin Aina refers to as the "sugary notions 
of interdependence, global flows and exchanges," a view which clearly presents 
globalization as a benign force, a "creative process producing new technologies 
and expanding opportunities." The author's own analysis of the process differs 
fundamentally from the above. For him, globalization is, "the transformation of 
the relations between states, institutions, groups and individuals, the universalization 
of certain practices, identities, and structures and...the expression of the 
global restructuring that has occurred in recent decades in the structure of modern 
capitalist relations" (p 8). Embodied in that definition is the idea that the process 
of globalization has brought about fundamental changes in relations across nations 
in various aspects of social, political and economic life. The author criticises 
conventional wisdom on globalization in the sense that it downplays or underestimates 
issues of "coercion, conflict, polarization, domination, inequality, exploitation 
and injustice" {pi I). Globalization has led to further imperfections in labour 
and capital goods markets and has introduced new distortions, social hardships and 
marginalisation of communities. 
There is an extensive review of literature to show the divergence of opinion 
embodied in the above section.
Book Reviews 87 
Globalization and Social Policy 
The ultimate objective of the proposed research is not just to present the theoretical 
variations in notions of globalization, butrather, to determine the nature and impact 
of those processes on the design, implementation and effectiveness of social policy 
in Africa. The impact on social policy is investigated in the context of: 
• State-Society and State-Economy Relations. 
• Inequality and Poverty. 
• Gender Relations and Gender Analysis. 
• Economic Restructuring and Social Change 
There is the fundamental premise that globalization engenders certain kinds of 
responses as the various interest groups in society (state, civic society and labour) 
protect or enhance their interests which may be at stake through the globalization 
process. It is these responses that the author wishes to investigate. 
There is also a fundamental premise made that globalization has impacted the 
design and effect of social policy. The proposed research aims to explore the 
interrelationships between globalization and social policy within a dynamic 
context such as characterises the African economies today. 
Identification of Research Themes 
The author identifies and discusses very clearly the research issues emerging from 
the debate on the relationship between globalization and economic policy. The key 
research questions to be investigated are: (and to use the author's categorisation): 
Theme I: Development, Globalization and Social Policy Making 
in Africa 
This aspect of the study is intended to focus on the historical evolution of and the 
nature of social policy-making in different administrative and management systems 
in Africa. The origin, the design, the gender, class, ethnic and socio-political 
dimensions of social policy-making will be explored. 
Theme II: External Influence and Social Policy 
This section will focus on the impact of global social and economic developments 
on social policy. 
It examines the role of multilateral and international and regional financial and 
trading institutions on the administration and management of social services. Key 
issues to be studied in this regard include (p 78):
88 Book Reviews 
• adjustment and economic restructuring and social policy; 
• urbanisation and urban poverty; 
• household and family health; and 
• rural development and poverty. 
Theme III: Globalization, Social Policy and the State and 
Society 
Taking cognisance of the fact that globalization has engendered certain political, 
economic and social responses (both positive and negative), the author chooses this 
as another research theme. In particular, the author intends to study how "households, 
communities, social movements and several strategic groups have devised 
and utilized strategies and various means of pursuing and defending their 
interests" (p 78). This is important in terms of tracing the evolving nature of, for 
instance, definitions of social rights and citizenship status in relation to issues of 
access and entitlements to social services and other benefits of social policy. 
Comment on Methodological Issues 
Regarding the research methodology to be employed, the author chooses to dwell 
on the more general (albeit very important) study approach to be adopted in this 
particular research rather than focus on the more standard description of both 
quantitative and qualitative dimensions of research, such as methods of data 
gathering and analysis. His methodology emphasises the following principles- 
V open, bold, critical and disciplined" (p 80). The emphasis lies on the need to 
go beyond the "singular and monolithic, ideological and theoretical and 
disciplinary orientation" (p 80). 
ii) inter and multi-disciplinary, comprehensive, open to combination of various 
modes of investigation." 
Critical Appraisal of Working Paper 
r W ° r k i n f P a p e r °" gI o b a l i zati°n is a must for all those keenly following the 
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the naTur^f UT!?^ °f ^ Paper lieS '" itS very extensive review and analysis of Ule disco"rse on globalization, pointing out the shortcomings of each
Book Reviews 89 
argument. Thus, the proposal to re-think social policy in light of the multidimensional 
analysis of globalization constitutes a key policy as well as a research 
issue. 
Although the paper makes very interesting reading, there are a few problem 
areas. The choice of thematic areas for research, whilst relevant, is too broad and 
one is not too sure that justice will be done to all these chosen areas of study. 
A major weakness of the paper, though, lies in the serious omission of the 
quantitative and qualitative methodological techniques the author intends to use. 
Clearly, in the final analysis, the legitimacy of many of the author's alternative 
views on the issues of globalization and social policy must rest on the extent to 
which they can amass relevant data and information on the issues, and so the 
methodological issues should definitely have been elaborated in a lot more detail 
than has been done. 
The shortcomings of the paper notwithstanding, Tade Akin Aina's paper on 
globalization is an interesting work which provides a critical appraisal of the whole 
globalization debate. His attempt to deglorify globalization may be an ambitious 
undertaking but his theoretical frame convinces the reader that he is very likely able 
to do so. 
It therefore remains to be seen whether in fact he can demonstrate his perception 
of globalization as a predominantly pervasive or negative process in relation to 
social policy. 
Reviewed by Dr Theresa Moyo, Economics Department, Box MP 167, Mount 
Pleasant, University of Zimbabwe. 
The Tanzanian Peasantry: Further Studies, edited by Peter G Forster and Sam 
Maghimbi, Avebury, Aldershot, England (1995), ISBN 1-85628-493-X, 329 pp 
inc index. Price: N/K. 
Many studies have been carried out on Tanzania, focused on the need for rural 
development with a view to alleviation of poverty and the concomitant precarious 
conditions of existence. The context in which these studies took place was greatly 
influenced by the policies of Julius Nyerere, a leader who anticipated a large-scale 
transformation of society, by the creation of ujamaa villages. 
In this collection of essays, the contributors take note of Tanzania's transition 
phase when its leadership flirted with the Bretton Woods institutions, a period 
which was characterised by conflict with them and eventually, the capitulation. Not 
only did this result in a change of leadership, but also an acceptance of economic 
"liberalisation" in the context of "structural adjustment." 
Such changes it is argued, were not dealt with in the contributions to the first