The construction of meta-narratives : perspectives on Pan-Africanism and nationalism in Ghana, 1957-1966
This thesis explores the development and deployment of two political meta-narratives, Pan-Africanism and nationalism, in both the Gold Coast/Ghana, and amongst diaspora intellectuals and activists. Through a close examination of the published and personal writings of those who engaged with these meta-narratives â African American intellectuals, West Indian activists, and the first post-colonial African Prime Minster of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah â the extent to which context impacts upon the development of these ideas will be demonstrated. Considering the interaction between the construction of meta-narratives and socio-political change, this thesis will argue that broader historical changes fundamentally shaped how these sets of ideas were interpreted, and in turn, Pan-Africanism and nationalism provided a framework for how those historical changes were understood. The resulting interaction between ideas and practices led to a wide variation in meanings attributed to the meta-narratives, and it was from these variations that Nkrumah began to articulate his own understandings of Pan-Africanism and nationalism in the mid-twentieth century. This is demonstrated through the placing of Nkrumahâs worldview within
Crone Barber, Katie L.
The construction of meta-narratives : perspectives on Pan-Africanism and nationalism in Ghana, 1957-1966. This thesis explores the development and deployment of two political meta-narratives, Pan-Africanism and nationalism, in both the Gold Coast/Ghana, and amongst diaspora intellectuals and activists. Through a close examination of the published and personal writings of those who engaged with these meta-narratives â African American intellectuals, West Indian activists, and the first post-colonial African Prime Minster of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah â the extent to which context impacts upon the development of these ideas will be demonstrated. Considering the interaction between the construction of meta-narratives and socio-political change, this thesis will argue that broader historical changes fundamentally shaped how these sets of ideas were interpreted, and in turn, Pan-Africanism and nationalism provided a framework for how those historical changes were understood. The resulting interaction between ideas and practices led to a wide variation in meanings attributed to the meta-narratives, and it was from these variations that Nkrumah began to articulate his own understandings of Pan-Africanism and nationalism in the mid-twentieth century. This is demonstrated through the placing of Nkrumahâs worldview within
construction meta narratives perspective pan nationalism ghana explores_development deployment political meta narratives pan nationalism gold_coast amongst diaspora intellectual activist close_examination publish personal writing engage meta narratives african_american intellectual west_indian activist first post_colonial african prime minster ghana extent context impact_upon development idea demonstrate considering interaction construction meta narratives socio_political change argue broad_historical change fundamentally shape set idea interpret turn pan nationalism provide_framework historical_change understood result interaction idea practice lead wide variation meaning attribute meta narratives variation begin articulate understanding pan nationalism demonstrate place worldview within