The rise and fall of an African utopia : a wealthy theocracy in comparative perspective / / Stanley R. Barrett

• Autore: Barrett Stanley R
• Pubblicazione: Waterloo, Ont., : Wilfrid Laurier University Press, c1977
• Edizione: 1st ed.
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (270 p.)
• Disciplina: 301.29/669
• Soggetto topico: Yoruba (African people) - Politics and government; Yoruba (African people) - Religion; Collective settlements - Nigeria
• Note generali: Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliography and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Front Matter -- Table Of Contents -- List of Tables and Charts -- List of Maps and Photographs -- Preface -- Glossary of Yoruba and Arabic Words -- Introduction -- Early Development -- History and Economy -- Religion in Olowo -- Religion in Talika -- The Communal System -- Political Organization -- Discussion -- Recent Decline -- Private Enterprise -- Consequences for Innovation -- Olowo: A Model for Other Villages? -- Discussion -- Development And Decline In Comparative Perspective -- Development -- Decline -- Appendices -- Appendix A -- Appendix B -- Bibliography -- Index
• Sommario/riassunto: In 1947 a group of Yoruba-speaking fishermen who had been persecuted because of their religious beliefs founded their own community in order to worship in peace. Although located in an impoverished part of Nigeria, within a few years the village enjoyed remarkable economic success. This was partly because the fishermen held all goods in common, pooled the profits in the community treasury, and attempted to reduce the importance of the family and marriage. After about a generation the utopia began to fall apart. The early religious zeal faded, private enterprise replaced communalism, and the family became strong once more. In an attempt to explain the initial success and eventual decline of the utopia, the author compares it with neighbouring villages that embraced similar religious beliefs but did not enjoy the same economic success. He sets the problem firmly in a broad comparative framework and draws the implications for theories of development, especially Weber’s Protestant ethic thesis.
• Titolo autorizzato: The rise and fall of an African utopia
• ISBN: 0-88920-491-8; 0-88920-053-X; 0-88920-885-9
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Record Nr.: 9910154727003321
• Lo trovi qui: Univ. Federico II
• Serie: Development perspectives ; ; 1.