本文從全球資本主義體系和國家關係的角度重新討論非洲國家社會主義發展史上的一些重大問題：政黨組成、階級鬥爭、經濟制度、文化價值和冷戰格局的影響，以求在反思二十世紀非洲的社會主義運動失敗的原因的同時，設想二十一世紀非洲可能有的社會主義形式。

This paper is an effort to initiate a rethinking of the history of African socialist movements by examining certain key issues central to the formation of African socialist states, such as the nature of political parties, class struggle, economic policies, cultural values and the Cold War impact. All arguments will proceed from the perspectives of the world capitalist system and the order of nation-states. While acknowledging the failure of African socialist movements on the state level, the paper still argues for their possible continuity on the social level in the 21th century.