the new mddle class and social change in africa: implications for theory and public policy
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The New Middle Class and Social Change in Africa: Implications for Theory and Public
Policy
Komiete Tetteh, 10/05/14
Outline 1. Introduction Objective To tell the story of the rise of new middle class in
Africa and their social impact, including the policy and theoritical implications
Methods • Document Analysis • Interviews and conversations with selected middle
class Africans • Observation
Outline 2. The Rise of African Middle Class - Size/Scale of Expansion - Growth Drivers - Attributes
3. The New Middle Class in Perspective - Distinction from the Old - Traits 4. Middle-Class Mediated Social Change in Africa
6. Implications
7. Conclusion
The BIG Story!-Ten Things You May Know About Africa Today
5. 10 % increase in life expantancy since 2000
6. Less than 50% of Africans now live below the poverty line
7. 75% Reduction in HIV Infection Rate
8. Reduction in Conflicts
9. Foriegn Trade and Investments bigger than Aid
10. Growing Opimism
1. Fastest growing continent in the world, (Economist, 2011; 2013)
2. 26 African Countries now classified as Middle Income (World Bank, 2013)
3. Most Profitable Investment Destination in the World (World Bank, 2007)
4. Fastest Growing Cell Phone Market
A Changing Global Narrative About Africa?Less than a Decade Ago...... Now ......
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"..little progress was made in reducing extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.”---2008 MDG Report, UN
"Africa has made significant progress in poverty reduction, primary education, women’s empowerment and in its fight against HIV/AIDS"----2012, UN
"In Sub-Saharan Africa, the extreme poverty rate rose from 47.4 percent in 1990 to 49 percent in 1999. The numbers are believed to be still rising” ---World Bank, 2004
"Africa could be on the brink of an economic takeoff.."
----World Bank, 2010
The Rise Of The African Middle Class
1. African Development Bank, 2011
1. Size and Scale of Expansion
African Development Bank, 2011
The Rise Of the African Middle Class
Growth is ubiquitous, but non-uniform
Key Attributes of the African Middle Class
• Definition: Segment of the African population sitting between the continent's few rich elite and its mass poor.
• Annual Income • Daily Cosumption Expenditure: $2-$20 a day (AfDB,
2011)• Propertied Group - Common Asserts include cars• Possess Higher Education• Enaged in Professional Occupation • Urban-based • Internally Differentiated
Key Drivers of Middle Class Expansion in Africa
Globalization & Neoliberalism International Trade FDIs International Div. of Labour Return Migration
Better Ecobomic Mgt Private sector Growth Diversification Rising Incomes Targeted Poverty Reduction and Economic Empowerment Schemes
Peace Good governance Accountability Democracy Decentralzation Active Civil Society
Expanded Access to Education Increased Accessibility to Social Services Falling inequality Gender Changing Lifestyle Rapid Urbanization
Notable Differences Between The Old & The New
State-created Market Forces Privatization
Younger (40) More mixed Singles
Older (40+) Male Dominated Mostly Married
University Degree Non-Traditional Fields
Private Sector Service/New sectors
Demographics
Public Sector Traditional Profs
Urban Core State Housing Mixed Income Areas Conservative Traditional Less Materialistic
Middle/Higher Traditional Fields
Formation
Education
Lifestyle/Values
Occupation
Residence Suburban areas Private Housing Secluded Zones Liberal Modern Highly Materialistic
Our Focus is the New
Because they.......• Represent the New face of Africa• Are the fastest growing social group • Are driving most of the changes taking place
in the economic, social, political and spatial landscape of Africa
Unique Traits of the New African Middle Class
• Highly Connected• Highly Mobile • Independent • Highly Aspirational • Assertive• Culturally Self-Confident (Juma, 2011)• Ambitious/Enterpreneural • International exposure
Social Change
1.Social Structure
2. Social Institutions
3. Social Relations
4. Culture a. Non-Material b. Material
- Alteration in the Social Order of Society
Changing Social Structure
From... To....• Kinship-based
• Rigid and Hierarchichal
• Position determined by gender, enthnicity, and family/clan
• Chiefs, Religious Leaders, Politicians as centres of Authority
• Class/Status-based
• Loose
• Position determined by Individual Achievement
• Achievers and Celebrities as Role Models
From.....
1. Marriage To....
• Early Marriage & Child-bearing• Tribe/Religion/ Nationality-based • Greater Family
Role in Spousal Selection
• Polygamy
• Delayed Marriage & Child-bearing•Inter-tribal/Interracial
•Limited (Advisory) Parental Role
• Monogamy
2. The New African Family From...
• Corporate Kinship & Strong Ex-tended family attachment • Larger Family size• One Bread-winner (man)
• Traditional Roles
• Nuclear households
• Fewer Children
• Two-income households
• Negotiated roles
To....
New Forms of Social Relations
• Growth of Class-based Associations
• Women Empowerment • Gender/ethnicity
becoming less crucial
Cultural Transformation
Language • Preference for English first
A. Non-Material Culture
ValuesEducationAssertivenessWriting
Symbols• Blending
B. Material Culture
New • Lower Quality Products
• Traditional Markets
• Cash-based Transaction
• Public Social Services • Traditional Forms of Recreation
• Higher Quality Products
• Shopping Malls and Supermakets
• Cashless Transactions
• Private, specialized services
• New forms of Leisure
Old Emergent Consumption Patterns
So What?
• Middle Class Growth Associated with Democracy, Transparency, Meritocracy, and institutional accountability (Madlam, 2011)
• Drivers of economic growth, through innovation, self-employment, global connectivity
• Spill-over effects of middle-class expansion on the poor is much higher than pro-poor policies
Implications for Policy
But.....• Not all Africans do well
when the middle class is doing well.
• Growing Socio-Spatial Inequality Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya
Implications for Policy
So What?
• Inclusion of class as a guiding heuristic for analysis and interpretation of data in contempoary Africa
• More research needed
Implications for Theory
Conclusion
• Knowledge Production, Dissemination and Interpretation • Cultural Leaders • Generators of New Ideas• Wealthy Consumers
The Role of the New Middle Class in Africa`s Social Transformation
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