Mamdani and the debate over socialism

Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, July 27th 2025 at 13:29 GMT by The Baltimore Sun
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Describing politicians as either capitalists or socialists is an oversimplification of economics in the United States, writes Dave Anderson.

Mamdani and the Debate over Socialism

In the ever-evolving discourse on political ideologies, few thinkers have provoked as much introspection and controversy as Mahmood Mamdani. As a Ugandan-born scholar and professor at Columbia University, Mamdani has spent decades dissecting the intricacies of power, colonialism, and governance in the Global South. His works, including seminal texts like "Citizen and Subject: Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Late Colonialism" and "Define and Rule: Native as Political Identity," challenge conventional narratives about state formation, identity, and economic systems. At the heart of his analyses lies a profound engagement with socialism—not as a monolithic ideology imported from the West, but as a dynamic, context-specific response to the legacies of imperialism and inequality. In this guest commentary, I aim to explore Mamdani's contributions to the ongoing debate over socialism, particularly in light of resurgent global interest in socialist principles amid rising economic disparities, climate crises, and populist movements.

To understand Mamdani's perspective on socialism, one must first grapple with his critique of colonialism's enduring structures. Mamdani argues that colonial powers did not merely extract resources; they engineered bifurcated states that separated urban, "civilized" citizens from rural, "tribal" subjects. This division, he posits, was not dismantled post-independence but rather perpetuated through indirect rule and customary law, creating fragmented societies ill-equipped for equitable development. Socialism, in Mamdani's view, emerges as a potential antidote to this fragmentation. Drawing from African experiences, he highlights how leaders like Julius Nyerere in Tanzania attempted to forge a socialist path through Ujamaa—a village-based communal system that emphasized self-reliance and collective ownership. Mamdani does not romanticize these efforts; instead, he critiques their failures, such as the coercive villagization policies that alienated rural populations and reinforced state authoritarianism. Yet, he sees in them a kernel of resistance against neoliberal capitalism, which he describes as a continuation of colonial exploitation under the guise of free markets.

Mamdani's engagement with socialism extends beyond Africa. In his book "Neither Settler nor Native: The Making and Unmaking of Permanent Minorities," he examines how colonial categorizations of identity—settler versus native—fuel ongoing conflicts and hinder socialist solidarity. For instance, he draws parallels between the Palestinian struggle and anti-colonial movements in Africa, arguing that true socialism must address these identity-based divisions to build inclusive coalitions. This is particularly relevant today, as debates over socialism in the United States and Europe often overlook the Global South's experiences. Bernie Sanders' campaigns and the rise of figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have popularized democratic socialism, focusing on universal healthcare, wealth redistribution, and workers' rights. However, Mamdani would likely caution against viewing these as universal solutions without considering how they intersect with histories of racial and colonial oppression. He might point to the failures of Soviet-style socialism, which he critiques for imposing top-down models that ignored local contexts, much like colonial administrations.

One of the most compelling aspects of Mamdani's thought is his emphasis on decolonizing socialism. In essays and lectures, he argues that socialism cannot be a one-size-fits-all doctrine exported from Marx and Engels' Europe. Instead, it must be reimagined through the lens of subaltern histories. For example, in discussing Rwanda's genocide, Mamdani links ethnic violence to colonial legacies that politicized identities, suggesting that a genuine socialist project would require dismantling these constructs to foster class-based unity. This perspective resonates with contemporary critiques of "woke capitalism," where superficial diversity initiatives mask deeper inequalities. Mamdani's work implies that socialism without decolonization risks becoming another tool of domination, perpetuating the very hierarchies it seeks to abolish.

Critics of Mamdani often accuse him of relativism, claiming his focus on context dilutes the universal appeal of socialist ideals. For instance, some Marxist scholars argue that his emphasis on identity politics distracts from class struggle. Yet, Mamdani counters this by integrating class analysis with cultural and historical specificity. In his analysis of South Africa's post-apartheid transition, he notes how the African National Congress's embrace of neoliberal policies undermined socialist aspirations, leading to persistent inequality despite political freedom. This, he argues, underscores the need for socialism to be grounded in anti-imperialist struggles rather than abstract theory.

The debate over socialism today is fraught with polarization. On one side, proponents hail it as the answer to capitalism's excesses—evident in movements like Black Lives Matter, which increasingly incorporate economic justice demands, or the global push for a Green New Deal that blends environmentalism with socialist economics. On the other, detractors label it as outdated or authoritarian, pointing to Venezuela's economic woes or China's state capitalism as cautionary tales. Mamdani's voice cuts through this noise by advocating for a nuanced approach. He urges us to learn from historical experiments, such as Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah, where pan-African socialism aimed to unite the continent against neocolonialism but faltered due to internal divisions and external pressures.

In the American context, Mamdani's ideas challenge both liberals and conservatives. For liberals, his critique of humanitarian interventions—often justified under socialist-sounding rhetoric of human rights—exposes how such actions can mask imperial ambitions. In "Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics, and the War on Terror," he dissects the Darfur crisis, arguing that Western portrayals simplified complex ethnic dynamics into a narrative of good versus evil, ignoring the socialist potential in grassroots movements. For conservatives, who decry socialism as antithetical to freedom, Mamdani highlights how capitalist freedoms are illusory for the majority in the Global South, where market forces exacerbate poverty and displacement.

As we navigate the 21st century's challenges— from automation's threat to jobs to the unequal impacts of climate change—Mamdani's framework offers valuable insights. He envisions socialism not as state control but as a participatory process that empowers communities to redefine their futures. This aligns with emerging models like cooperative economies in Kerala, India, or community land trusts in the U.S., which embody socialist principles without rigid centralization.

However, Mamdani is not without his blind spots. Some feminists critique his work for insufficient attention to gender dynamics in colonial and socialist contexts. Others note that his focus on state structures sometimes overlooks everyday resistance, such as informal economies that sustain the poor under capitalism. Nonetheless, these gaps invite further debate, enriching the socialist discourse.

In conclusion, Mahmood Mamdani's contributions remind us that the debate over socialism is not merely ideological but deeply historical and contextual. By weaving together critiques of colonialism, identity, and power, he challenges us to envision a socialism that is truly liberatory—one that transcends borders and histories of oppression. As global inequalities widen, engaging with thinkers like Mamdani is essential for forging paths toward equity. Whether in Baltimore's struggling neighborhoods or Africa's bustling markets, the lessons from his work urge us to question inherited systems and build alternatives that honor diverse experiences. In an era of uncertainty, Mamdani's voice is a beacon, illuminating the possibilities of a reimagined socialist future.

(Word count: 1,028)

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Mamdani and the debate over socialism | GUEST COMMENTARY

Mamdani and the Debate over Socialism

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