This paper is partially a response to Pat Manning’s invitation to ‘participate in a continuing campaign to elucidate the influence of ideology on historical writing’ in his article ‘Notes toward a theory of ideology in historical writing on modern Africa’ (Canadian Journal of African Studies, 8 (1974), 2, p. 235-253). Manning points out the pervasive influence of ideology in interpretations of African history. However, this paper outlines an alternative approach to the topic. Using the concept from the historical evolution of the natural sciences, the author argues that the historiographical issues raised by Manning can be more meaningfully seen in terms of differing paradigms than in terms of ideological disputes. The two paradigms are labelled the orthodox and the radical. Sections of the paper: Introduction – Paradigms – The paradigms applied (The origins of underdevelopment; The persistence/perpetuation of underdevelopment; Solutions to underdevelopment). Notes; ref.
