Claude Ake

thumb|Claude Ake Claude Ake (18 December, 1939 – 7 November, 1996) was a Nigerian political scientist, economist, author. He was one of Africa's foremost scholars on democracy, development, political economy and governance. Quotes "..." Claude Ake discussing political power in A Political Economy of Africa (1981), p. xx. "..." Claude Ake discussing development in Democracy and Development in Africa (1996), p. xx. The contemporary world is not a favorable environment for democracy. We have always preferred the reputation of being democrats to the notorious inconveniences of practicing democracy. Now, we can enjoy the reputation without the inconveniences because we have trivialized democracy to the extent that it is no longer threatening to those in power or demanding on anyone. Democracy spreads because it has been rendered meaningless and innocuous without losing its symbolic value. while it spreads, our world is more repressive". "Is it not better for Africa to seek development rather than democracy? why should we care about the democratization of Africa? Does it really matter? Particularly at this time when the development crisis has left many of us impoverished. undernourished and starving, our infrastructure decaying, our social consensus. Fractured irredeemably, unleashing stress, conflict and violence everywhere? The answer is that this crisis is precisely a crisis of politics. especially a crisis of anti-democratic practices. We hear repeatedly that development has failed in Africa. The point however is that it just never started in the first place because of inclement political conditions. More than anything else, it is politics that is under-developing African." "…….the most decisive issue in Africa today is the prospect of democracy. Democracy is not merely desirable, it is necessary. It will not solve all the problems of Africa but none of the major problems can be solved without it.... " https://www.oocities.org/cluadeake/main/quotes.html "..." Claude Ake discussing social science in Social Science as Imperialism (1979), p. xx. The Social Sciences will serve the well-being of humanity to the extent that Social Scientists decide to commit themselves firmly and concretely to popular interests in their practice. This commitment will provide the greatest stimulus to the development of Social Science".https://www.oocities.org/cluadeake/main/quotes.html "..." Claude Ake discussing democracy during an interview with West Africa Review, Year. External links https://www.oocities.org/cluadeake/main/quotes.html Category:1939 births Category:1996 deaths Category:Political scientists from Nigeria Category:Economists from Nigeria Category:Authors from Nigeria