Chapter 12: Exploring the Problem of “Justice” in a Context of Community Development in Africa: A Dialogue Between Philosophy and Politics

This chapter explores a pragmatic theory of justice in an African community development context using examples from a Kenyan context. It is provoked by an evidence-based argument that most well-intended community development projects remain unsustainable because they are founded on theories of justice based on Anglo European and North American (excluding Indigenous and First Nations) epistemologies transplanted into the African context without critical analysis. This chapter identifies the gaps in some of these “classical” theories and explains why they remain irrelevant in these contexts. The discussion sheds light on the realities of African community development that challenge transplanted theories with examples from Kenya. Using data collected from a qualitative participatory action research project, practice observations, and critical literature review, some of the factors highlighted include the challenge of balancing local and international needs, deeply rooted politicized ethnicity and patrimonial politics that favors a top-down elitist approach to community development, and the individualized view and implementation of “justice” issues. The chapter concludes that considering these issues, a pragmatic theory of justice in an African community development context is characterized by the complex notions of human dignity and not merit and entitlement, centering the margins, and the notion of difference and not sameness. The significance of this chapter lies in its contribution to normalizing discussions about justice as integral parts of the African community work discourses in the academy and practice.