Critical assessment of the Tanzanian model of development

THIS STUDY IS AN IMPRESSIONISTIC ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFORT TO BUILD AN AGRARIAN SOCIALIST SOCIETY WHICH IS EQUITY BASED, VILLAGE AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED, PARTICIPATIVE AND DEMOCRATIC, AND WHICH PLACES A HIGH VALUE ON HUMAN FREEDOM. ALTHOUGH THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT ALSO INCLUDES A CONCERN FOR IMPROVING EQUITY, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND INDIVIDUAL HUMAN DIGNITY. DEVELOPMENT, IN THIS VIEW, MAY REQUIRE PUBLIC POLICIES WHICH TRY TO FIND SOME EQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN THE OBJECTIVES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, SOCIAL WELFARE AND POLITICAL STABILITY. THE REPORT INCLUDES THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MODEL, AND VILLAGE ORGANIZATION. THERE IS A RIGHTIST CRITIQUE USING A BUREAUCRATIC PERSPECTIVE, A NATIONALIST PERSPECTIVE, AND A FREE ENTERPRISE PERSPECTIVE. THE LEFTIST CRITIQUE ARGUES THAT TANZANIA IS A TYPICAL CASE OF CONTINUING DEPENDENCY AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT. IN THE FINAL ASSESSMENT, TANZANIA IS CHARACTERIZED BY AN AMAZING DEGREE OF POLITICAL STABILITY ON A CONTINENT CHARACTERIZED BY POLITICAL INSTABILITY. THE LEVEL OF DEDICATION TO DEVELOPMENT APPEARS EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH.