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African universities and the challenge of postcolonial development
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 January 2024
Abstract
Extensively ignored by the literature on the subject, recent interest in the fate of academic freedom in Africa is linked with shared concerns about the exploding nature of its societal crises. The collapse of political integration and social cohesion; the decline of the civil society and the implosion of conflicts; the rise of authoritarian, non-developmental populist regimes amid extreme poverty; and the worsening material conditions of the populations are major indications of such crises. Nowhere are these crises worse illustrated than in the universities where constrained funding, infrastructural collapse, massive brain drains and strained relations with the state inhibit the production of knowledge. This article reflects on the trajectory of the universities in postcolonial Africa. It draws on the national public universities in Nigeria and accounts for the changes and continuities underlying their performance against the backdrop of hostile material conditions and uncongenial political control, which not only remain disruptive but continue to undermine institutional autonomy and the integrity of scholarship in the universities across Africa.
Résumé
Largement ignoré par la littérature sur ce sujet, l’intérêt récent porté au sort de la liberté académique en Afrique est lié aux inquiétudes partagées concernant la nature explosive des crises sociétales. L’effondrement de l’intégration politique et de la cohésion sociale, le déclin de la société civile et l’implosion des conflits, la montée des régimes populistes non développementaux autoritaires sur fond d’extrême pauvreté, et la détérioration des conditions matérielles sont tous des indicateurs majeurs de ces crises. Ces dernières sont le plus clairement illustrées dans les universités où les contraintes financières, l’effondrement de l’infrastructure, la fuite massive des cerveaux et les relations tendues avec l’État sont autant de freins à la production des savoirs. Cet article s’intéresse à la trajectoire des universités en Afrique postcoloniale. Centré sur les universités publiques nationales du Nigeria, il explique les changements et les continuités qui soulignent leur efficacité dans un contexte de conditions matérielles défavorables et de contrôle politique hostile, qui non seulement demeurent déstabilisants, mais aussi continuent à fragiliser l’autonomie institutionnelle et l’intégrité de la recherche dans les universités africaines.
Resumo
Extensivamente ignorado pela literatura sobre o assunto, o recente interesse no destino da liberdade académica em África está ligado a preocupações comuns sobre a natureza explosiva das crises sociais. O colapso da integração política e da coesão social; o declínio da sociedade civil e a implosão dos conflitos; a ascensão de regimes populistas autoritários e não-desenvolvimentistas em meios de pobreza extrema; e o agravamento das condições materiais das populações – tudo isto são indícios importantes dessas crises. Em nenhum outro lugar estas crises são mais claramente ilustradas do que nas universidades, onde o financiamento limitado, o colapso das infraestruturas, a fuga maciça de cérebros e as relações tensas com o Estado inibem a produção de conhecimento. Este artigo reflete sobre a trajetória das universidades na África pós-colonial. Baseia-se nas universidades públicas nacionais da Nigéria e explica as mudanças e as continuidades subjacentes ao seu desempenho num contexto de condições materiais hostis e de um controlo político desconfortável, que não só continuam a ser destabilizadores como continuam a minar a autonomia institucional e a integridade dos estudos nas universidades de toda a África.
- Type
- African universities
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- Copyright
- © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the International African Institute
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