Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian Copperbelt (Volume 57) (Perspectives on Southern Africa)

Once lauded as the wave of the African future, Zambia's economic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s was fueled by the export of copper and other primary materials. Since the mid-1970s, however, the urban economy has rapidly deteriorated, leaving workers scrambling to get by. Expectations of Modernity explores the social and cultural responses to this prolonged period of sharp economic decline. Focusing on the experiences of mineworkers in the Copperbelt region, James Ferguson traces the failure of standard narratives of urbanization and social change to make sense of the Copperbelt's recent history. He instead develops alternative analytic tools appropriate for an "ethnography of decline."Ferguson shows how the Zambian copper workers understand their own experience of social, cultural, and economic "advance" and "decline." Ferguson's ethnographic study transports us into their lives--the dynamics of their relations with family and friends, as well as copper companies and government agencies.Theoretically sophisticated and vividly written, Expectations of Modernity will appeal not only to those interested in Africa today, but to anyone contemplating the illusory successes of today's globalizing economy. Once Lauded As The Wave Of The African Future, Zambia's Economic Boom In The 1960s And Early 1970s Was Fueled By The Export Of Copper And Other Primary Materials. Since The Mid-1970s, However, The Urban Economy Has Rapidly Deteriorated, Leaving Workers Scrambling To Get By. Expectations Of Modernity Explores The Social And Cultural Responses To This Prolonged Period Of Sharp Economic Decline. Focusing On The Experiences Of Mineworkers In The Copperbelt Region, James Ferguson Traces The Failure Of Standard Narratives Of Urbanization And Social Change To Make Sense Of The Copperbelt's Recent History. He Instead Develops Alternative Analytic Tools Appropriate For An Ethnography Of Decline. Ferguson Shows How The Zambian Copper Workers Understand Their Own Experience Of Social, Cultural, And Economic Advance And Decline. Ferguson's Ethnographic Study Transports Us Into Their Lives—the Dynamics Of Their Relations With Family And Friends, As Well As Copper Companies And Government Agencies.-- The Copperbelt In Theory: From Emerging Africa To The Ethnography Of Decline -- Expectations Of Permanence: Mobile Workers, Modernist Narratives, And The Full House Of Urban-rural Residential Strategies -- Rural Connections, Urban Styles: Theorizing Cultural Dualism -- Back To The Land?: The Micropolitical Economy Of Return Migration -- Expectations Of Domesticity: Men, Women, And The Modern Family -- Asia In Miniature: Signification, Noise, And Cosmopolitan Style -- Global Disconnect: Abjection And The Aftermath Of Modernism -- Postscript: December 1998. James Ferguson. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 295-320) And Index. Once lauded as the vanguard of an "African Industrial Revolution", Zambia's economic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s was fueled by the export of copper and other primary materials. Since the mid-1970s, however, the urban economy has rapidly deteriorated, leaving ordinary people scrambling to get by. Expectations of Modernity explores the social and cultural responses to this prolonged period of sharp economic decline. Focusing on the experiences of mine workers in the Copperbelt region, James Ferguson traces the failure of standard narratives of urbanization and modernity to make sense of the Copperbelt's recent history. In place of these linear narratives, he offers new analytic tools appropriate for an "ethnography of decline".Ferguson shows how the Zambian mine workers negotiate their own experience of social, cultural, and economic "advance" and "decline" by transporting us into their lives, exploring the dynamics of their relations with family and fellow workers as well as copper companies and government agencies. Theoretically sophisticated and vividly written, Expectations of Modernity will appeal not only to those interested in contemporary Africa, but to anyone contemplating the illusory successes of today's globalizing economy and the different experiences of modernity that are formed within it. Once lauded as the wave of the African future, Zambia's economic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s was fueled by the export of copper and other primary materials. Since the mid-1970s, however, the urban economy has rapidly deteriorated, leaving workers scrambling to get by. Expectations of Modernity explores the social and cultural responses to this prolonged period of sharp economic decline. Focusing on the experiences of mineworkers in the Copperbelt region, James Ferguson traces the failure of standard narratives of urbanization and social change to make sense of the Copperbelt's recent history. He instead develops alternative analytic tools appropriate for an "ethnography of decline." Ferguson shows how the Zambian copper workers understand their own experience of social, cultural, and economic "advance" and "decline." Ferguson's ethnographic study transports us into their livesthe dynamics of their relations with family and friends, as well as copper companies and government agencies. Theoretically sophisticated and vividly written, Expectations of Modernity will appeal not only to those interested in Africa today, but to anyone contemplating the illusory successes of today's globalizing economy. "Once lauded as the wave of the African future, Zambia's economic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s was fueled by the export of copper and other primary materials. Since the mid-1970s, however, the urban economy has rapidly deteriorated, leaving workers scrambling to get by. Expectations of Modernity explores the social and cultural responses to this prolonged period of sharp economic decline. Focusing on the experiences of mineworkers in the Copperbelt region, James Ferguson traces the failure of standard narratives of urbanization and social change to make sense of the Copperbelt's recent history. He instead develops alternative analytic tools appropriate for an "ethnography of decline." Ferguson shows how the Zambian copper workers understand their own experience of social, cultural, and economic "advance" and "decline." Ferguson's ethnographic study transports us into their lives--the dynamics of their relations with family and friends, as well as copper companies and government agencies."-- Back cover