Political Economy

G03(b) - Group Economics for African People

Date: May 30 | Time: 10:30am to 12:00pm | Location: Riddell Centre (RC) 286

Joint Session / Séance conjointe : with the Association for Nonprofit and Social Economy Research (ANSER)

Chair/Président/Présidente : Caroline Shenaz Hossein (York University)

Session Abstract: Group Economics for African People

Theory and Practice of African American Cooperative Economics: Jessica Gordon-Nembhard (City University of New York)
Abstract: The history of cooperative ownership among African Americans demonstrates how cooperatives and the notion of a group economy have enabled Blacks to generate income and at the same time be family and community friendly. The history of African American cooperative ownership does demonstrate that Black Americans have been successful in creating and maintaining collective and cooperatively owned enterprises that often provided not only economic stability, but also developed many types of human and social capital, and economic independence. This provides an alternative model of development based on recognizing and developing internal (to the individual and to the community) capacities; and creating mechanisms that distribute, recycle and multiply local expertise and capital within a community, creating a solidarity economy for both survival and often community independence.

The Need for a Cooperative Ganja Model in the Caribbean : Kevin Edmonds (University of Toronto)
Abstract: When viewed through the theory of the Plantation Economic Model, once ganja is legalized and opened up as a legitimate site of investment, the current power imbalances within the domestic and international economies will carry over, displacing those individuals who have been relying on the ganja trade as a source of income and employment for decades. Without a platform that takes this into consideration – and scales up the benefits to the average person (through the creation of community cooperative mechanisms), the Caribbean may find itself on the outside looking in, seeing further increases in poverty, inequality, unemployment, and foreign economic domination. This presentation will propose a model of community ganja cooperatives as a way to mitigate the effects of the Plantation Economy.

Natural Resources and Community Development in the Niger Delta: Salewa Olawoye (Ryerson University )
Abstract: With decades of resource extraction in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, sustainable development is still a great issue of concern. Poverty, social justice, equity and environmental protection are still largely areas of concern in this region. The rise of community development organizations has been fuelled by Nigerian federalism, corruption and environmental degradation. This paper discusses the various local community development strategies, poverty alleviation initiatives and institutions that have been implemented in the Niger Delta region–corporate and inter-relational level. The presentations contributes to sustainable development that translates to equity, a better quality of life, a better environment and an overall better society.

Under-representation of the Black Community in the Formal Cooperative Sector in Canada : Ushnish Sengupta (University of Toronto)
Abstract: The formal cooperative sector in Canada, plays a significant role in the economy. At the same time there are few Black community led cooperatives, and few Black community members in management positions. In contrast, recent data form the United States indicates the majority of new worker cooperatives are led by people of colour. A deliberate strategy of converting existing businesses into cooperatives has resulted in conversion of White owned businesses into cooperatives owned by more diverse communities. The current state and possibilities for Black community owned cooperatives in Canada will be assessed in this paper.