dc.description.abstract |
The social scientist in Africa is presently inundated by a number of methodologies.
Some of these methodologies are based on modernist theories such as: modernization,
underdevelopment and dependency and the articulation of modes of production. Sometimes these
modernist methodologies have emphasized empiricism that is based on either quantitative or
qualitative data; at other times they have insisted on the use of theory. Over the last two decades
or so an alternative methodology, namely postmodernism, has emerged to jostle with modernist
methodologies for preference in usage. This paper defines this methodology and traces its origins
and spread in Africa. It further outlines its forms then comments its usage by Angelique Haugerud
in her book, The Culture of Politics in Modern Kenya (Haugerud, 1995). It is hoped that this
paper will contribute more fruitfully to the debate on postmodernism than has resulted from other
debates that are not based on analyses about the use of this methodology. |
en_US |