Maha Ben Gadha and Imen Louati report on a two-day workshop held in Tunis, 21-23 February 2025 and convened by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. The workshop was part of a collective book project that aims to provide African perspectives on a just socioecological transformation, and served as a critical space for examining the global capitalist order and developing a framework for a decolonised and equitable post-capitalist future.
By Maha Ben Gadha and Imen Louati
The North Africa office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation convened a workshop in Tunis, 21-23 February 2025 entitled A just socioecological transformation: An African perspective. The meeting served as a crucial forum for a collective book project, edited by Maha Ben Gadha and Imen Louati. The book’s overarching objective is to challenge the prevailing global economic order which perpetuates accelerated forms of economic domination and ecological plunder in Africa, and to envision an alternative grounded in environmental and social justice, and radical equality.
The book will feature contributions from scholar researchers and activists from across Africa and the Global South. Participants who are also authors in the forthcoming publication included Essam el Korgheli, Matteo Capasso, Mabrouka Mbarek, Razaz Hussein, Asume Osuoka, Maurice Carney, Osama Diab, Emilie Reyes, Safouane Azzouzi, Ndongo Samba Sylla, Fadhel Kaboub and Liu Yé. Ben Radley is also a co-author and other Europe and US based participants in the workshop and overall collaborative project included Corrina Mullin and Ray Bush, Elisa Greco and Giorgos Velegrakis.
During the two days of the workshop, the authors presented their draft chapters and discussed the main thematics of the book. Participants also shared a vision for Africa’s future. Members of the Review of African Political Economy (ROAPE) editorial working group contributed to the project’s review process and the book’s concluding final statement: a manifesto advocating for action and solidarity. Below is a summary of the panels, presentations and debate.
Unmasking contemporary imperialism
The workshop’s opening panel, moderated by Corinna Mullin, provided a critical examination of the enduring legacies of imperialism. The contributors’ analyses revealed that contemporary imperialism transcends mere economic or military dominance, operating as a multifaceted system that actively shapes knowledge production and manipulates financial mechanisms, and controls the movement of money and labour.
Epistemic violence
El Korghli and Capasso argued that contemporary imperialism operates through a ‘constellation of interventionism’ and ‘cognitive warfare,’ aiming to control the ‘ideological-material conditions’ of populations. They supported this claim by analysing the US Congress Global Fragility Act and its impact on knowledge production in Libya, highlighting instances of ‘epistemic violence’ which are practices that aim to undermine and suppress Southern knowledge production that serve to dismantle the intellectual and cultural foundations of resistance. This includes the deliberate erasure of alternative epistemologies (epistemicide), the destruction of educational infrastructure (educide), and the physical targeting of knowledge spaces and individuals (scholasticide), as tragically evidenced recently in Palestine. They concluded with an invitation to a broader theoretical reflection on the kind of knowledge that needs to be produced in Africa that actively ‘delinks’ from imperialism and its military, financial and ideological tools.
A materialist approach
While recognizing the importance of tracing the historical roots and enduring impacts of contemporary imperialism, M’barek advocated for a dialectical and materialist approach, showing the interconnectedness of economic, social, and political factors, by tracing value extraction within capitalism, and focusing on the dynamic movement of money and labour. She used the Tunisian political process after 2011 to expose the financial manipulation that happened, and deployed Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) as a lens to analyse the currency mechanisms used to reinforce imperial control. She underscored how the notion of ‘imperial rent’ effectively captured the extraction of value from the often-unseen social reproductive work performed predominantly by African women, which underpinned global capital accumulation. Critically, she highlighted the structural nature of racism as a tool used by imperialism to divide the working class and maintain racial divisions.
Resisting green imperialism: Toward ecological justice
The second panel of the workshop featured Asume Osuoka, Rezaz Hussein, Safouane Azzouzi, and Maurice Carney, and was moderated by Ray Bush. The panel critically examined the ways in which seemingly progressive ‘green’ initiatives can perpetuate neocolonial control and resource extraction highlighting the dangers of ‘blind environmentalism’ and growth-led policies. From the discourse of fossil fuel divestment to the design of ‘green cities,’ these case studies demonstrate the hidden strategies employed to perpetuate value extraction. Understanding these strategies is essential for developing effective resistance to them.
Blind environmentalism
Highlighting the disconnect between the expectations of Western environmental groups and the lived realities of communities in the Niger Delta, Isaac Osuoka exposed the inherent contradictions within the dominant climate discourse, particularly concerning fossil fuel divestment and carbon trading mechanisms which often lead to a new form of land grabbing in African countries, perpetuating existing patterns of exploitation.
Seemingly, in the name of northern Green transition, Maurice Carney detailed the ongoing exploitation of the Congo’s resources, particularly critical minerals like cobalt, highlighting the historical continuity of extractive practices from the colonial era to the present and the devastating human and environmental costs in the rain forests and the mining basin. He exposed the role of corporations, governments, and international institutions in perpetuating this exploitation, and highlighted the work of the Basanga Coalition struggle in resisting it.
Razaz Hussein used case studies from Kigali, Kampala, and Addis Ababa to challenge common ‘green mobility myths’ in East African cities. She highlighted how the frameworks promoted by international institutions like the World Bank often fall short in addressing the region’s realities. Her work focused on the unique challenges of African urbanisation, such as fast-growing populations, informal transport systems, and ongoing energy poverty. Hussein showcased how ‘green projects’ driven by global capital, reinforce existing power structures and exacerbate inequalities, emphasising the need for industrial policies focused on low-polluting manufacturing, and the expansion of public goods and services, for a genuine urban African well-being.
In contrast to the urban focus, Azzouzi addressed the role of design in rural contexts. He reviewed the role of design in perpetuating extractivism and neoliberal paradigms. He argued that design, often presented as a solution, is in fact used as a tool for cultural imperialism and the creation of new markets for exploitation. Azzouzi called for a shift from object-centered design to value-centered design, emphasising the importance of commoning and community economies. He used the example of the Oasis in Tunisia, to show how local communities can use commoning and autonomous design to resist the destruction of their livelihoods.
The discussions emphasised the need to move beyond localized victories and false enemies, to confront the systemic forces behind global inequality and ecological devastation. Building on the previous panel’s analysis of the ‘worldwide law of value,’ this session illustrated its practical impact through exploitative practices, reinforcing the necessity for anti-imperialist and decolonised approaches to fundamental transformation. The central question became: how to break free from economic dependency and dismantle unequal power structures to build a truly just and equitable society? The subsequent panel addressed these critical concerns, exploring concrete strategies for decolonised development, and establishing the conditions for sustainable, autonomous, and feminist radical transformation.
Rethinking sovereign development: Economic alternatives for Africa
The second half of the workshop featured Emilia Reyes, Ndongo Samba Sylla, Osama Diab, Fadhel Kaboub and Liu Yé, and was moderated by Maha Ben Gadha. Each contributor offered distinct yet interconnected critiques of the prevailing global economic order and proposed radical and complementary alternatives to it. Emphasis was placed on the need for economic sovereignty, ecological sustainability, social justice, and Global South solidarity.
Emilia Reyes called for a radical rupture with the capital-centric system, challenging ‘collapsology’ and right-wing narratives, advocating instead for a feminist-informed delinking strategy that prioritizes the ‘logics of life’ over the relentless accumulation of capital. This strategy entails the active dismantling of the imperialist capitalist system, not simply its reform. She emphasised the necessity to challenge the ‘sexual division of labour’ within any sovereign development framework. This vision called for a fundamental rethink of what we mean by ‘development’—one that puts social well-being and environment at its core. It must go beyond financial metrics to include both paid and unpaid forms of economic activity, ensuring the essential conditions for life itself.
Ndongo Samba Sylla shed light on how transnational corporations continue to exploit Africa’s resources, exposing the deep power imbalances at play. He emphasised the urgent need for African nations to regain greater control—both technically and physically—over their export sectors. He then went on to examine the recurring debt crises, methodologically demonstrating why the continent remains vulnerable despite past debt relief initiatives and commodity booms. He used the MMT (Modern Monetary Theory) lens to unpack the concept of ‘external constraint’ and exposed how profit and dividend repatriations far exceed debt service, and how foreign earnings from the export sector reveal the true source of economic plunder. The contribution of Sylla provided a powerful critique of the conventional understanding of debt and development and a crucial understanding for African countries on how to manage real resource constraints. He urged African countries to strengthen their control over export sectors, prioritise locally resourced projects, and engage in strategic economic diplomacy to achieve effective national sovereignty.
Building upon Sylla’s exposure of systemic resource plunder, Osama Diab argued that many Global South countries, particularly in Africa, are trapped in an export-led development paradigm that perpetuates their economic vulnerability. He advocated for a radical shift towards a ‘less for more’ approach, using this approach in very concrete ways for many commodities characterised by low price elasticity of demand, demonstrating that exporting less could actually increase revenues, while simultaneously mitigating the severe ecological devastation caused by relentless resource extraction. He proposed the formation of commodity alliances to counter the power of global monopolies and advocated for controlled production cuts, drawing parallels to historical and contemporary examples of successful interventions.
Addressing these national economic vulnerabilities necessitates a broader understanding of Africa and the Global South’s position within the global economic order and the evolving dynamics of international relations. This understanding is essential to effectively leverage geopolitical power.
Fadhel Kaboub’s intervention centered on the imperative of decolonising the global economic order. He envisioned a unified Global South, with Africa playing a pivotal role, leveraging its renewable energy resources to disrupt the current hierarchy. He advocated for strategic technology partnerships, particularly with China, to reposition the Global South as a central force, rather than a new dominant power. Kaboub also demonstrated the practical application of Modern Monetary Theory, showing how nations with monetary sovereignty can finance their development internally, ensuring economic autonomy through strategic investments. That is, a strategic approach to industrial policy emphasising the importance of redefining ownership models and ensuring equitable distribution of value. He also stressed the need for collective security pacts and food security strategies to counter imperialist pressure.
Liu Yé analysed the transformation of China’s international development cooperation and China’s engagement with the Global South, emphasising the importance of understanding multipolarity as a stage for manoeuvre rather than a fixed end goal. He explained that recent economic challenges and a revival of Maoist-era solidarity have driven China to re-engage with the Global South. Liu Ye stressed the necessity of understanding the nuances of China-Africa relations for achieving genuine equality, emphasizing it as a dynamic, ongoing process.
The ‘Rethinking Development’ panel, enriched by audience contributions, critically examined delinking and alternative development models. While recognising the challenges of collective action and geopolitical risks, the discussion also addressed the very definition of progress. Panellists advocated transformative action centred on social justice, economic sovereignty and ecological integrity. This included building grassroots alliances, reorienting industrialisation towards essential needs, and implementing appropriate technologies for local empowerment. Central themes were prioritising ‘life’ through decolonised feminist perspectives, and highlighting the need to overcome the ‘crisis of imagination’ to envision post-capitalist futures.
A Manifesto and Call to Action
The workshop served as a critical space for examining the global capitalist order and developing a framework for a decolonised and equitable post-capitalist future. The Manifesto for African Liberation, signed by all participants, is its culmination, and will serve as a powerful conclusion to the book.
Maha Ben Gadha is a researcher, activist, and advocate for social and economic justice, particularly within the context of North Africa and the broader Global South. She is senior economic program manager at the Rosa Luxemburg foundation. Her work focuses on issues of development, decolonization, and alternative economic models. She is co-editor of Economic and Monetary Sovereignty in 21st Century Africa, published by Pluto Press.
Imen Louati earned her PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Sorbonne University in 2015. Since then, she has worked as a researcher and program manager with both national and international organizations. Her research focuses on topics such as food sovereignty, access to water, to energy and to natural resources, trade agreements and the influence of financial institutions on public policies, energy transition and just transition. She works to supports actors in North Africa who are striving to develop transformative socio-ecological alternatives.
For 50 years, ROAPE has brought our readers path-breaking analysis on radical African political economy in our quarterly review, and for more than ten years on our website. Subscriptions and donations are essential to keeping our review and website alive. Please consider subscribing or donating today.
