The Future of Socialism in Africa: Response

It may seem churlish or nitpicking to write a critical comment on “The Future of Socialism in Africa” — especially since I agree with most of Richard L. Sklar’s admirable article. He is not only right on the mark, but he is often so without being obvious. Yet there is one important point that is not evident—and is problematic—in his analysis, and that concerns his use of the word “socialism.”

Many authoritarian one-party regimes in sub-Saharan Africa...