The New Middle Class and Social Change in Africa: Implications for Theory and Public

Policy

Komiete Tetteh, 10/05/14

Outline 1. Introduction Objective To tell the story of the rise of new middle class in

Africa and their social impact, including the policy and theoritical implications

Methods • Document Analysis • Interviews and conversations with selected middle

class Africans • Observation

Outline 2. The Rise of African Middle Class - Size/Scale of Expansion - Growth Drivers - Attributes

3. The New Middle Class in Perspective - Distinction from the Old - Traits 4. Middle-Class Mediated Social Change in Africa

6. Implications

7. Conclusion

The BIG Story!-Ten Things You May Know About Africa Today

5. 10 % increase in life expantancy since 2000

6. Less than 50% of Africans now live below the poverty line

7. 75% Reduction in HIV Infection Rate

8. Reduction in Conflicts

9. Foriegn Trade and Investments bigger than Aid

10. Growing Opimism

1. Fastest growing continent in the world, (Economist, 2011; 2013)

2. 26 African Countries now classified as Middle Income (World Bank, 2013)

3. Most Profitable Investment Destination in the World (World Bank, 2007)

4. Fastest Growing Cell Phone Market

A Changing Global Narrative About Africa?Less than a Decade Ago...... Now ......

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"..little progress was made in reducing extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.”---2008 MDG Report, UN

"Africa has made significant progress in poverty reduction, primary education, women’s empowerment and in its fight against HIV/AIDS"----2012, UN

"In Sub-Saharan Africa, the extreme poverty rate rose from 47.4 percent in 1990 to 49 percent in 1999. The numbers are believed to be still rising” ---World Bank, 2004

"Africa could be on the brink of an economic takeoff.."

----World Bank, 2010

The Rise Of The African Middle Class

1. African Development Bank, 2011

1. Size and Scale of Expansion

African Development Bank, 2011

The Rise Of the African Middle Class

Growth is ubiquitous, but non-uniform

Key Attributes of the African Middle Class

• Definition: Segment of the African population sitting between the continent's few rich elite and its mass poor.

• Annual Income • Daily Cosumption Expenditure: $2-$20 a day (AfDB,

2011)• Propertied Group - Common Asserts include cars• Possess Higher Education• Enaged in Professional Occupation • Urban-based • Internally Differentiated

Key Drivers of Middle Class Expansion in Africa

Globalization & Neoliberalism International Trade FDIs International Div. of Labour Return Migration

Better Ecobomic Mgt Private sector Growth Diversification Rising Incomes Targeted Poverty Reduction and Economic Empowerment Schemes

Peace Good governance Accountability Democracy Decentralzation Active Civil Society

Expanded Access to Education Increased Accessibility to Social Services Falling inequality Gender Changing Lifestyle Rapid Urbanization

Notable Differences Between The Old & The New

State-created Market Forces Privatization

Younger (40) More mixed Singles

Older (40+) Male Dominated Mostly Married

University Degree Non-Traditional Fields

Private Sector Service/New sectors

Demographics

Public Sector Traditional Profs

Urban Core State Housing Mixed Income Areas Conservative Traditional Less Materialistic

Middle/Higher Traditional Fields

Formation

Education

Lifestyle/Values

Occupation

Residence Suburban areas Private Housing Secluded Zones Liberal Modern Highly Materialistic

Our Focus is the New

Because they.......• Represent the New face of Africa• Are the fastest growing social group • Are driving most of the changes taking place

in the economic, social, political and spatial landscape of Africa

Unique Traits of the New African Middle Class

• Highly Connected• Highly Mobile • Independent • Highly Aspirational • Assertive• Culturally Self-Confident (Juma, 2011)• Ambitious/Enterpreneural • International exposure

Social Change

1.Social Structure

2. Social Institutions

3. Social Relations

4. Culture a. Non-Material b. Material

- Alteration in the Social Order of Society

Changing Social Structure

From... To....• Kinship-based

• Rigid and Hierarchichal

• Position determined by gender, enthnicity, and family/clan

• Chiefs, Religious Leaders, Politicians as centres of Authority

• Class/Status-based

• Loose

• Position determined by Individual Achievement

• Achievers and Celebrities as Role Models

From.....

1. Marriage To....

• Early Marriage & Child-bearing• Tribe/Religion/ Nationality-based • Greater Family

Role in Spousal Selection

• Polygamy

• Delayed Marriage & Child-bearing•Inter-tribal/Interracial

•Limited (Advisory) Parental Role

• Monogamy

2. The New African Family From...

• Corporate Kinship & Strong Ex-tended family attachment • Larger Family size• One Bread-winner (man)

• Traditional Roles

• Nuclear households

• Fewer Children

• Two-income households

• Negotiated roles

To....

New Forms of Social Relations

• Growth of Class-based Associations

• Women Empowerment • Gender/ethnicity

becoming less crucial

Cultural Transformation

Language • Preference for English first

A. Non-Material Culture

ValuesEducationAssertivenessWriting

Symbols• Blending

B. Material Culture

New • Lower Quality Products

• Traditional Markets

• Cash-based Transaction

• Public Social Services • Traditional Forms of Recreation

• Higher Quality Products

• Shopping Malls and Supermakets

• Cashless Transactions

• Private, specialized services

• New forms of Leisure

Old Emergent Consumption Patterns

So What?

• Middle Class Growth Associated with Democracy, Transparency, Meritocracy, and institutional accountability (Madlam, 2011)

• Drivers of economic growth, through innovation, self-employment, global connectivity

• Spill-over effects of middle-class expansion on the poor is much higher than pro-poor policies

Implications for Policy

But.....• Not all Africans do well

when the middle class is doing well.

• Growing Socio-Spatial Inequality Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya

Implications for Policy

So What?

• Inclusion of class as a guiding heuristic for analysis and interpretation of data in contempoary Africa

• More research needed

Implications for Theory

Conclusion

• Knowledge Production, Dissemination and Interpretation • Cultural Leaders • Generators of New Ideas• Wealthy Consumers

The Role of the New Middle Class in Africa`s Social Transformation

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