Factors for Joining Village Community Networks in Tanzania

Abstract

Self-created social networks play key role in the development of communities across the globe. Self-created community networks serve as platforms for social networking among marginalized communities in Africa and the rest of the world. Although community members are motivated to network, social networks face some micro and macro structural challenges. Despite the challenges, community members continue to join and benefit from social networks. However, the reasons for them to join the networks, especially in the African context, are inadequately documented. Using a qualitative methodology and longitudinal research design, the article explores "push and pull" factors for joining a strand of self-created social network known as Village Community Networks (VCONEs). The findings suggest that challenges emanating from the neoliberal context push some community members to join VCONEs. The push prompts them to seek some protection against the negative forces of neoliberalism. VCONEs also pull women to access opportunities offered by the network. Noteworthy, VCONEs have managed to retain some autonomy from external agents such as local governments, donor and NGOs. The autonomy from external agencies makes VCONEs more sustainable than other strands of social networks. Contribution/ Originality:The study adds to a push-pull theory by highlighting the existence of push and pull factors that draw people into social networking and entrepreneurship in a rural context. The article further adds to the theory of social network through the innovative application of the push-pull theory in exploring social networking.

Coping Strategies of Feminine Peasant Networks and Social Protection (SP): The case of Village Community Networks (VCONEs) in Tanzania

“…Overall, communities that take charge of their development have a higher chance of attaining and sustaining quality lifestyles (Madaha, 2017(Madaha, , 2021(Madaha, & 2022Madaha et al, 2021). Community development is a process and an outcome involving a group of people in a locality who have recognized their ability and initiate a collective social action in the form of a planned intervention to change their economic, physical, social, cultural, political, and/or environmental situation and achieve tangible outcomes-in terms of economic, physical, social, cultural, political and/or environmental improvement in a community (Flora & Flora, 1993;Phillips & Pittman, 2009;Robinson & Green, 2011;DeFilippis & Saegert, 2012).…”

“…While the market is claimed to be free and the government has taken the role of a regulator, the context often favors only those with adequate capital who can invest in profitable businesses. The process further leads to the impoverishment of marginalized communities (Harvey, 2005(Harvey, , 2007Madaha et al, 2021).…”