The Political and Social Thought of Kwame Nkrumah

Inspired by Gandhi's non-violent campaign of civil disobedience to achieve political ends, Kwame Nkrumah led present-day Ghana to independence. This analysis of his political, social and economic thought centres on his own writings, and re-examines his life and thought by focusing on the political discourse and controversies surrounding him. Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 12 1 The Discourse on Nkrumah......Page 16 2 Nkrumah’s Intellectual Influences, 1927–1945......Page 26 3 From Activist to Leader of the CPP, 1945–1951......Page 44 4 Nkrumah and the Dyarchic Partnership, 1951–1954......Page 62 5 Nkrumah and the Opposition, 1954–1957......Page 80 6 Nkrumah’s Politics, 1958–1966......Page 96 7 Economic, Social, and Cultural Policies, 1958–1966......Page 114 8 Nkrumah’s Political Writings, 1958–1966......Page 134 9 Nkrumah’s Foreign Policy, 1958–1966......Page 150 10 Nkrumah in Exile, 1966–1972......Page 170 11 Nkrumah in Retrospect......Page 188 Notes......Page 208 Bibliography......Page 248 Index......Page 258

Kwame Nkrumah remains a towering figure in African history. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent campaign of civil disobedience, he led what is now the nation of Ghana to independence in 1957. Nkrumah made Ghana a beacon of hope for not only Ghanaians but also people of African descent throughout the world. Perhaps no other African leader of the 1950s and 1960s personified the dreams, principles, and aspirations of this era. This thoroughgoing analysis of Nkrumah’s political, social, and economic thought centers on his own writings, and reexamines his life and thought by focusing on the political discourses and controversies surrounding him.

Palgrave Macmillan Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Abbreviations 12 1 The Discourse on Nkrumah 16 2 Nkrumah’s Intellectual Influences, 1927–1945 26 3 From Activist to Leader of the CPP, 1945–1951 44 4 Nkrumah and the Dyarchic Partnership, 1951–1954 62 5 Nkrumah and the Opposition, 1954–1957 80 6 Nkrumah’s Politics, 1958–1966 96 7 Economic, Social, and Cultural Policies, 1958–1966 114 8 Nkrumah’s Political Writings, 1958–1966 134 9 Nkrumah’s Foreign Policy, 1958–1966 150 10 Nkrumah in Exile, 1966–1972 170 11 Nkrumah in Retrospect 188 Notes 208 Bibliography 248 Index 258 9780230113343