Question

Use the excerpt to answer the question. “Africa’s social background of tribal community life not only makes socialism natural to Africa but excludes the validity of the theory of class struggle.” —Léopold Senghor, President of Senegal, 1964 What does Senghor’s statement about African socialism imply about this economic system?
African socialism was based on economic competition between private industries.
African socialism was modeled on the political ideologies found in communist European nations.
African socialism was not identical to socialist economic systems in the U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe.
African socialism depended on a strong centralized government.

Answer 1

Senghor’s statement implies that African socialism was not identical to socialist economic systems in the U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe. By emphasizing the social background of tribal community life and suggesting that socialism is a natural fit for Africa while rejecting the theory of class struggle, Senghor indicates that African socialism has distinct characteristics that are rooted in communal values rather than solely in the class conflict often emphasized in Marxist-Leninist approaches.