International cooperation and development
Analyze the challenges facing development agenda in Africa.
1.0 Background of the study
Western civilization and culture began to creep into Africa when foreigners,’—who comprised of
mainly Europeans -- quest were intended at commanding imperial ideologies and stealing African
resources. Since then, African scholars argued that this practice continued even after independence in
the continent. A number of challenges face the African continent in the 21st century. These include
colonial legacy; foreign aid, Africa and the challenge of the MDGs; political agendas, civil war and
corruption and cultural mediation as a new tool.
Liberia as a case study emerges from the shadows of a devastating 14-year civil war, the
aftershocks of its past history of cultural hatred, violence and sleaze, and the arrest on war crimes
charges of former president Charles Taylor, tend to draw the most serious media interest. There
is, however, an equally dramatic story of the formidable challenges facing the country in its
efforts to bring an impression of normalcy to what has been a failed state with no civil services
of any kind.
The effects of economic negligence, corrupt government, executive abuse and infrastructure
collapse were compounded by the socio-economic and humanitarian impact of sanctions. The
significance of this mission is hard to misjudge since any progress towards greater stability and
security depends on how fast fundamental services are restored and the economic engine
restarted. Experience has taught us that an imperfect effort in consolidating the tranquility is
often an overture to new conflict, which played a crucial role in the stabilization of the state and
remains a key force in laying the basis for long-lasting peace and steadiness.
Africa's first female president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who won the current UN-organized
elections, faces several pressing errands ahead as the nation attempts to get past the trauma of its
long civil war and proceed with its development agenda. These include the reintegration of ex-
combatants, the resettlement of internally displaced persons and returning refugees, creating jobs
and other income-earning opportunities, the repair and rehabilitation of infrastructure destroyed
during the war, the restructuring and reform of the armed forces and police service, the
consolidation of State authority throughout the country, and the work of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission.
2.0 Colonial heritage
Colonization distorted the pace of cultural growth and the development of civilization in Africa.
The costs of colonization have resulted in political of the colonies which led to an unbridgeable
cultural space between the beneficiary nations and victims of the practice. The era of
colonization sack and plunder led to the relative stagnation and often decline of traditional
cultural pursuits in the colonies. The social foundation was completely confounded and a new
culture of violence was entrenched. Traditional African systems of conflict resolution were
destroyed and, in their places, nothing was replaced. The democratic process, rudimentary
though it was, but with great potential as accompanies every human institution, was brutally
uprooted and replaced by the authoritarianism of colonialism. A new crop of elites was created,
nurtured, and weaned on the altar of violence and colonialism armed with the structures of the
modern state to continue to carry out the art and act of subjugation of the mass of the people in
the service of colonialism. The above assertion was supported by Kasongo who argues “one
could infer that while westernization was imported to African countries, the hidden side of
modernism was materialistic interest. To Kazonog, civilization was just another idea of
domination, obligation of incoming new culture over traditional values. Standage, on the other
hand, posits that the historical context of westernization in Africa with Europe was through the
Atlantic slave trade, missionary and imperialism. The forced hastening of the black populations
into the new world represented the sustained incorporation of western culture by Africans.
2.1 Economic effects of colonialism in Africa
The economic effects of colonialism can be observed as a progressive integration of Africa into the
world capitalist system within which Africa functioned primarily as a source of raw materials for
western industrial production. The colonial economy also caused farming to be diverted towards the
production of most important products and cash crops, a situation that resulted to hunger and
malnourishment in Africa. Africa concerted on producing more of what was required less and
produced less of what was wanted most. Africa was continually turned to the production of
unprocessed materials, a situation that caused imbalanced exchange in -- and balance of -- trade.
Rodney suggests that the plunderage and systemically corrupt enterprises established in the colonies
to expropriate natural resources in Africa to Europe have facilitated under-development of Africa
while it engendered the development of Europe. Alkali argues that colonization demanded a total re-
organization of the African economy. Even in its present situation, life as an economic plan changed
the way people manufacture, generate and use. Neo-liberalism also cropped up in African societies
which were just an economic process that distrusts the state as a factor in development. It can be seen
just as a philosophy that can be re-packaged over the years with the aim being to make people
believe that the market mechanism is the most efficient allocator of production resources and
therefore to have an efficient and effective economy, forces of demand and supply must be allowed
to play a leading role.
2.2 Social effects
The social effects of colonialism led to countless challenges that included eccentricity of families in
an otherwise close knit-family structures, disintegration of family/social associations and rapid
urbanization that has resulted into rural migration and displacement of large segments of the
population. Expertise in African languages is waning in the continent because people are forced to
embrace western culture and civilization. This has caused separation for people who cannot speak
foreign languages as language has been used as a vehicle of culture which has literally created a
dichotomy between the elite and the masses. Obadina argues that alien models forced by colonialism
laid seeds for a political crisis in Africa.
By redrawing the map of Africa and grouping diverse people together, ethnic conflicts were created
that are now destabilizing the continent. Some have argued that it was the attraction of modernity
with its pledge for greater material gain that subverted African societies during colonialism. It is
impossible to imagine what would have been the shape of current African history had colonial rule
never had taken place. Some western historians have argued that less industrial regions of the world,
particularly Africa lacked the social and economic organization to change themselves into modern
states able to grow onto advanced economies.
3.0 Foreign Aid
The nature of inter-independence of nations makes it necessary for the granting of aid to needy
countries. Neo-Marxists have always argued that the advancement of developed countries’
economies have also facilitated the same measure as the under-development of the third world
through colonialism, slave trade and unequal exchange of trade. The third world has acquired
substantial amount of both internal and external debt, partly caused by foreign aid from countries in
the West. The aid relationship has created a condition of economic subservience and of a master-
servant relationship that could generate relentless seeking and lobbying for foreign aid through
borrowing. Moyo argues that aid was not working in Africa because it interfered with development
as the money always gone the hands of a small chosen few, making aid a form of taxing the poor in
the west to enhance the new elites in former colonies. Peter Bauer, one of the earliest critics of aid
argued most powerfully that aid- based theories and policies were completely inconsistent with sound
economic reasoning and indeed with reality. The author and former World Bank economist Bill
Easterly has provided several case studies on the failures of aid policies across the developing world.
Paul Collier criticizes the blanket one-size-fits-all aid approach as paying no heed to the unique
circumstances of individual countries, and thus proposes a more nuanced approach to aid driven
proposals, and only where they are needed. Moyo argues that the mistake the west made was giving
something for nothing. The secret of china’s success is that the venture into Africa is all about
business. The west sent aid to Africa and eventually did not care about the effect, with aid exclude
the majority of the people from wealth, leading to political volatility. China on the other hand, sends
cash to Africa and demands proceeds. With returns, Africans gets jobs, roads, food, making them
better off and the promise f some impression of political stability.
4.0 CORRUPTION
Corruption is a serious cancer in Africa and it is eating into every aspect of life and into every
socio-economic groups. The misery it brings to ordinary Africans and the opportunity it provides
to non Africans to exploit Africa is suggestive of the exploits of the Slave Trade. Today's African
leaders are similar to the African slave barons who facilitated the capturing and the selling-off of
millions of their equal blacks to distant lands where they were dominated into slavery, only today
they are restrained within their own borders.
In the City of Nairobi for example, corruption has enabled the grabbing of open spaces which are
important aspects of an excellent urban atmosphere and a fine quality of life. In these open
places are escalating huge villas, neighborhood centres, temples and sports education complexes
for exclusive members of communities who flourish because of such corruption. This process
has effectively separated local people whose members are left without such public facilities
because they are different and poor, never mind that they are the native citizens.
In scenes only reported in countries where black people feel endangered, African children have
been shot dead by armed police reserves that are protected in law courts and set free. So, as we
speak about commodities and communities it is important to be concerned about justice. Perhaps
when the truth around the secret monetary transactions in Africa is exposed and finally exposed,
the globe will be as stunned on how Africa was economically crippled, as it is distressed, when it
now comprehends the carnage of the transoceanic Slave Trade or the Jewish Holocaust in Europe
during the 2nd World War. Burden is being placed on the Africans by the west and the African
leaders appear powerless of protecting their own people from such misuse.
Africa is more than its leaders and more than the political and economic interests which
influence decisions about her. Concern for Africa ought to be concern for the African people and
for the future generations of Africans. Those who are cooperating and protecting stolen wealth
from Africa should not be protected by global public opinion which wishes to pretend that this is
the way Africans do business. Perhaps there should be an international code of moral
responsibility to make those who steal from the public and those who keep and protect such
stolen wealth responsible for the economic insecurity they cause to the affected countries, in
about the same way ethnic wars threaten peace and security of people in Somalia, Rwanda,
Liberia, Kenya and the former Yugoslavia. Those who are responsible should be tried for crimes.
Perhaps it is time there were economic crimes against humanity. Besides that, such stolen wealth
should be retrieved and returned to the creditors. This could be a great economic humanitarian
intervention for Africa! And it could be one way of alleviating poverty and underdevelopment in
that part of the world.
5.0 The Absence of Peace and Security
Peace and security are a prerequisite for development and all human beings aspire and deserve
them. All people also aspire for happiness and a quality of life devoid of poverty and indignity.
Yet for the last three decades many African states have hardly enjoyed internal peace and
security. State oppression by dictatorial rulers, especially during the Cold War, precipitated a
prevalent culture of fear and silence which gave a semblance of peace in many countries. The
outcry of citizens over gross violations of human rights was minimized against the background
of civil wars which raged in countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Angola, Mozambique and
Liberia. Oppressive governments elsewhere in Africa were portrayed as benign and progressive
and their countries were projected as secure, peaceful and prosperous islands even as their
dissenting citizens were silenced in detentions, police cells and torture chambers. The Cold War
was used by the superpowers and their allies to justify the tolerance of political and economic
oppression and violation of the rights of citizens who dissented.
But those were the days of the Cold War and misinformation and misrepresentation of Africa
was part of the War. This misrepresentation gave an excuse to those who imported arms and land
mines which have been used to destroy millions of lives in Africa. The carnage goes on in
Somalia, Rwanda, Liberia and in the streets of many cities. People of Africa continue to be
sacrificed so that some factories may stay open, earn capital and save jobs.
6.0 vicious Style of Political and Economic control
Africa has suffered from lack of enlightened leadership and a bad style of political and economic
guidance. While African leaders could have excused themselves for being unable to protect their
people from the exploits of colonial empires in the l9th and 20th centuries, they can hardly
escape blame for allowing neo-colonial exploitation which continues to reduce many of their
people into paupers in their own countries.
During the past three decades, Africa suffered lack of visionary and humane leaders committed
to the welfare of their own people. They were convinced to accept the development model of the
West, borrow wealth from the West and be guided by experts from the same West.
This was partly promising because the colonial administration purposely destroyed and
discredited the traditional forms of self governance in Africa. Until late 1950s when the
inevitable wave of de-colonization swept across Africa natives were not allowed to practice their
own form of governance, culture, religion, traditions and customs. While the colonial form of
governance was being put in place, the western religion and values were being imposed on those
who converted into christianity. Whatever provided guidance and order in the society was
banned or condemned by the western missionaries as being incompatible with the teachings of
Christ and Christianity.
Just before independence was granted, young Africans were promoted to positions hitherto
unoccupied by the local people and they were trained by colonial masters to take over power
from the colonial administration. Many of these African recruits were politically naive and
uninformed. Some of them (or their parents) were naive corroborators with the colonial
administration during the struggle for independence. Their employment into the prestigious
administrative positions previously reserved for the colonial masters was a manipulative ploy. It
blinded them. They became corroborating students of the same colonial administrators who
wanted devotees of their philosophy and values to govern the new independent African States.
These were to be the corroborators for neo-colonialism.
So fluttered by the new-found power and prestige in their new state, many Africans became
sucked into a mechanism which help the continued misuse of Africa and the African people. It
was easy for the new rulers to be blinded with material wealth and civil liberties associated with
wealth and political power because they were naive and inexperienced. This progress allowed the
beginning of a small group of African elites who were in liaison with the rich North to continue
the exploitation of the African resources while ignoring the fate of the impoverished majority.
7.0 An aggravated Democratization course
This continuous frustration of the democratization process is a major restricted access to any
developmental program. Africans, like all other human beings, want to benefit from the basic
freedom and rights. They want fairness, equity, lucidity, responsibility and liability. They want
respect and human poise. They want a respectable life and a chance to feed, shelter and clothe
their families through sincere, hard work. They want to create a tough civil society which can
hold its leaders answerable and responsible. Such leadership would create an environment which
would facilitate creativity, innovativeness, self-confidence, persistence and progress. They want
to sustain mechanisms of governance which ensure the security of the people rather than the
security of heads of States. That is the type of democracy millions of Africans are striving for.
And that is what they would like the leadership in the world to help facilitate morally,
economically, and politically.
In his day, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana is said to have urged Africans to seek first the political
freedom and all else would be added unto them. Today Africans are seeking for political freedom
which is more democratic, just and just form of authority so that the economic benefits may be
added unto them. It is impossible to do much for the African community until there is political
liberty, peace and fairness. As one looks at the bottlenecks mentioned in this account it would
appear that Kwame Nkrumah was right. Only, he did not add that it must be political freedom
embracing emancipation, impartiality, justice and tranquility.
8.0 Little Technology Transfer
Technology is solution to economic development. One wonders whether the technologically
superior nations are really concerned in transferring technology to less sophisticated nations
which, if triumphant, would make them more aggressive and self-reliant. Is it inexperienced on
the part of the technologically less advanced to expect true transfer of this sort of understanding?
At the moment technology shift into Africa continues to be in the form of end user technology
which only allows people to learn what technology to consume and how to consume it.
Only a new corporation in a new era of cooperation could make government and its people agree
to transfer technological information which can make a difference. Only a new breed of African
political leaders could put the welfare of their people first and make it the basis for political and
economic policies. With such new partnership and international cooperation local innovations
and initiatives would be supported without discrimination. People of good will can help Africa,
but Africa must create the enabling environment for her people to benefit from such support.
Political leadership with that vision is currently lacking in many African countries.
9.0 Conclusion
All throughout the ages the African citizens have made efforts to set free themselves from cruel
forces. It is important that a decisive mass of Africans do not admit the decision that the world
tries to push down their throat so as to give up and give way. The great effort must persist. It is
important to care for any new ideas and initiatives which can make dissimilarity for Africa.
That albeit, Africa finds herself in the heart of new challenges and in a very spirited and uncaring
world. And so, even before Africans move forward from tribal "state" to the nation state, the
latter is by now collapse under the pressure of economic and political forces which are
determining the 21st Century.
10.0 recommendations
Generations of Africans have fought many valiant battles against many gross violations of the
rights of the African people. The power of evil has repeatedly been overcome by the power of
the intrinsic goodness of mankind. There are many examples to give inspiration, hope and a
sense of pride. A people less endowed with the power of the human spirit would have become
extinct and wiped from the face of this planet. This rich heritage should be the source of our
empowerment. Without such an ethic the power game, materialism and individualism takes over.
So also would anarchy, egoism, hatred, injustices, violence and intolerance. We must make our
choice or others, less sympathetic, will make that choice for us.
References
ACBF. 2004. “Meeting the Challenge of Enhancing Trade and Investment for
Poverty Reduction in Africa” ACBF Newsletter, October-December.
COMESA. 2004. Report of the Secretary General to the 9th Summit of the
COMESA Authority of Heads of State and Government, June.
Fajana, O. 2004. “Enhancing Africa’s Integration in a Globalizing World: A
Challenge for the African Union”, PASU.
Gonzales, A. 2000. Proposals for an ACP Agenda for Capacity Building,
Dialogue and Information for International Trade Negotiations, September.
Ogiogio, G. 2002. “Some Issues in the Building of Trade Policy Development
Capacity in Africa”, ILEAP Launch Conference.
Sako, S. and Ogiogio, G. 2002. Africa: Major Development Challenges and
their Capacity Building Dimensions. ACBF Occasional Paper No. 1.
Solignac Lecomte, H.B. 2000. Building Capacity to Trade: A Road Map for
Development Partners - Insights from Africa and the Caribbean, ECDPM
Discussion Paper 33.
USAID. 2001. Trade-Related Capacity Building in Least Developed Countries.
