Soviet collectivization and Tanzanian villagization; a comperative histographic study of implementational strategies

Abstract

This study compares the interpretations of the implementation of Soviet collectivization (1929-1933) and Tanzanian villagization (1967-1976). The descriptions in sixteen characteristic and especiall revealing studies are compared in order to ascertain the influence of politics on historical scholarship. On the one hand, the sample seems to indicate that whereas Soviet historians were directly influenced by politics and ideology, the Western counterparts were influenced by Stalinism. The Cold War seems to have had no discernible effect on the conclusions made by Western scholars on the implementation of collectivization. On the other hand, students of villagization were indirectly influenced by Tanzanian politics and the ideology of African socialism (Ujamaa).