Abstract
Historical materialist studies of law, especially in Africa, are relatively recent. One question they raise concerns the ways in which the subsumption of African peasants within capitalist relations of production has affected legal ideas in formerly precapitalist social formations. Using an example from Senegal, this article examines recent changes in the meaning and significance of a particular legal concept. It shows how the change in the social form of labour power during the colonial period resulted in the transformation of a precapitalist conception of ‘childwealth’ into a material and symbolic equivalent of urban labour power as a commodity. In conclusion, the article outlines four general theses about the transformation of legal forms in rural Africa during the 20th Century.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
