Problematizing Western reparations for colonial injustices: clearing the way for african ubuntu dignity restoration

Abstract

I problematize dominant Western theories of material compensations as not persuasive enough to compel colonial perpetrators of injustice to compensate Africa. I highlight seven theoretical and practical problems associated with material compensations for Africa. The first is the problem of identifying the actual African victims and second, the problem of using counter-factual calculations to determine the amount of compensation required. The third problem is that of burdening primary perpetrators of injustice to pay compensations while the fourth relates to using the collective guilty principle to identify burden bearers. The fifth problem is that of burdening secondary Western beneficiaries while the sixth is the problem of burdening Western knowledgeable beneficiaries. The last problem relates to burdening Western involuntary beneficiaries of injustices. I instead defend the African ethicists' emphasis on restoring the lost dignity of victims, supported by the equal sacrifice principle. I find the equal sacrifice/dignity restoration alliance more plausible.