Identities and moralities areview in the context of Africa's development Agenda

Abstract

There is renewed sociological and psychological interest in identity theorising and in its relationship with morality in the quest for sustainable development. The question that often arises is whether our condition of morality is connected to or influenced by the identity that we as individuals construct for ourselves. This discourse is critical for the contemporary debate on Africa’s development, as articulated through Agenda 2063 and SDG 1. It is argued that as mental states, the mind and the brain (two aspects that are heavily involved in identity construction) can influence and even control one another, thus mutually influencing and controlling behaviour. Others, however, deny this assertion and argue instead that identity, in itself, does not actually influence behaviour. Through an examination of the various theories of identity and drawing on examples that demonstrate the interface between behaviour and “self,” this chapter assesses whether identity construction can influence behaviour in the search for solutions to the challenge of poverty as expressed in SDG 1 and Agenda 2063. The chapter concludes that as individuals go through the process of identity construction, so do they make moral decisions about self as well – which in turn shapes/moulds behaviour. As such, morality and identity are in reality two sides of the same coin, with each shaping and influencing the other. This has direct implications for contemporary Africa’s development and promotes social justice, the chapter maintains.