ABSTRACT
One of the fundamental issues of most socio-political debate in
recent years is ALIENATION, which means “estrangement”. This essay will
elucidate the doctrine of alienation in its origin until the era of Karl
Marx. Much attention will be focused on the way Marx conceived
alienation, its causes, types and effects. Attempt will be made to use
this doctrine to explicate the circumstances of the majority of
Nigerians, who are predominantly poor.
The approach will be a theoretical exposition of K. Marx theory of
alienation. An attempt will be made to juxtapose the arguments for and
against the Marxist doctrine of alienation, and how it tallies with the
Nigerian society. This will aim at correcting the defective systems of
the Nigerian society. Here it will be explained, whether the suffering
and the inhuman conditions that most Nigerians pass through can be
termed, “alienation” following Marx theory. If this doctrine is applied
to the Nigerian society, the question will then be; how does the
Nigerian system alienates its citizens?
The purpose of this essay, is to show whether there is any
connections between the Marxist doctrine of alienation and the condition
of the average Nigerian worker. Here, I will examine the solution
proffered by Karl Marx. I will also show that though his alienation
doctrine seems to elucidate the conditions of many Nigerians, the causes
and solution proffered by Marx cannot be adapted to the Nigerian
society. To put it precisely, the solution proffered by Karl Marx is not
workable nor attainable in the Nigerian system. Finally, I shall
propose that alienation can only be mitigated within the context of
solidarity.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
It has become increasingly common to hear life in the present age
characterized in term of alienation1 The concept of alienation has
become an almost obsessive concern in areas of socio-political
philosophy, as a condition of man in this modern age. The subject matter
has become the isolated individual. The individual is estranged from
other people, the fruit of his labour, and his self. The alienating
condition of modern man shows that we are confronted by the symptoms of a
morbid and acute social sickness.
In this present Nigerian society, there has been lamentations of
oppressions exploitation and dehumanization. Nigerians are exploited by
fellow Nigerians, hence, M. I. Akimbo exclaimed, “we have done very
estimable evil to ourselves in this land”.2 Thus, a lot of thinkers now
term Nigerian workers as alienated beings. The question, which seems to
be cropping up, is whether some Nigerians are really alienated and
marginalized?
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The greatest ontological evil that can happen to being in its
essence, existence and expression is alienation.3 There has been various
attempts to interpret the conditions of the Nigerian workers following
the basic tenets of the Marxist doctrine of alienation, over the years.
The worst part, is the attempt to proffer solutions to the alienating
conditions of Nigerian workers following the pattern of Karl
Marx’s-revolution.
The problems created by alienation are multifarious. There is a
problem of man’s inhumanity to man dehumanization, as exemplified in the
way the rich treat the poor in Nigeria. There is also the estrangement
of some Nigerians; from the fruits of their labour, from friends and
from family. Added to the above is the exploitation of the resources in
the Niger Delta to develop the northern region of Nigeria. This
exploitation is in all regions; employers exploiting employees, the
rulers exploiting the ruled, the clergy men exploiting their members,
some lecturers in the university exploiting their students and so on.
How do we reconcile alienation with global call for freedom and human
dignity? How can man exercise himself fully in a society that is
characterized with all forms of alienation.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research among others is to assess the doctrine of
alienation and the applications of the solutions proffered with
reference to Karl Marx, and why this solutions cannot be applied to the
Nigerian society. An attempt will be made to give an elucidation of a
workable solution to address the alienating conditions in Nigeria.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this research work is bipolar, firstly, it will
serve as assessment of the much esteemed doctrine of alienation
enunciated by Karl Marx, secondly it will serve as awareness to many
Nigerians that there is a workable solution to this alienating condition
which characterize their society.
It will also create the awareness that the solutions to the problems
of alienation in Nigeria cannot be located in the solutions proffered by
Karl Marx.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This project shall be limited to the doctrine of alienation and its
solutions as enunciated by Karl Marx. This is not to neglect what other
theorists have said about the concept of alienation. This work will also
attend to alienation of Nigerian workers and the workable solutions to
these alienations or estrangement. The role of the labour unions’
strikes will be examined to see if it is justified. The reactions of the
Nigerian government to the conditions of the labour class will not be
neglected.
Also, the applicability or non-applicability of the solutions
proffered by Karl Mark will be examined critically to show how workable
it is in the Nigerian context.
1.6 METHODOLOGY
My approach to this research work will be critical and analytical (a
method where the issue at stake will be dissected and evaluated to show
its good and had qualities.
To this end, therefore, materials to execute the research will be
gotten from the library. This is not to undermine the importance of
relevant books gotten from friends, relevant class notes and interviews.