Related Experiment Videos
From development to sustained crisis: structural adjustment, equity and health
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Economic crises in sub-Saharan Africa are rooted in colonialism and class struggles. Structural adjustment programs worsen inequality, harming the poor and reversing independence gains for elites.
Area of Science:
- Socioeconomics
- African Studies
- Development Economics
Background:
- Sub-Saharan Africa faces persistent economic crises.
- The legacy of colonialism significantly shapes contemporary socio-economic structures.
- Class formation is a critical factor in understanding economic disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the root causes of economic crises in sub-Saharan Africa.
- To critically evaluate the impact of structural adjustment programs on social inequalities.
- To assert the social responsibility of scientists in addressing policy-induced health declines.
Main Methods:
- Historical analysis of colonial legacies.
- Socio-economic analysis of class formation and power dynamics.
- Critical policy analysis of structural adjustment programs.
Main Results:
- Economic crises are intrinsically linked to colonial history and internal class structures.
- Structural adjustment programs exacerbate existing inequalities and undermine social progress.
- Current policies have led to a significant decline in the health status of the poor.
Conclusions:
- Understanding sub-Saharan Africa's economic crises requires acknowledging colonial and class contexts.
- Structural adjustment programs benefit an indigenous capitalist class at the expense of the majority.
- Social scientists must advocate for the oppressed and challenge detrimental policies.