Adopting and Practicing Resource Nationalism in Tanzania : Historical Evidence from Socialist to State Developmentalist Eras

Does the adoption of resource nationalism really lead to its practice? Many resource-rich countries in Africa have at one time or the other adopted resource nationalist measures in a bid to increase economic benefits and bolster state and public participation. But has this translated into improved resource management? Drawing on evidence from Tanzania, this paper critically examines whether the adoption of resource nationalism results in actual practice and improved capacity for managing resources. The paper shows that the pattern has been the same throughout: adoption of resource nationalist measures has not automatically translated into actual practice. State enterprises have been established but the state has not injected capital into them to enable them spearhead resource nationalism into what the state wants to achieve. Consequently, resource nationalism appears to be politically motivated as a strategy to address opposition without having to invest into birthing what resource nationalism aspires to achieve