Title: Globalization and African Renaissance: The Challenge of Continental Strategies
Abstract: two-fold. We explain the causes of the failure of earlier attempts at African renaissance such as foreign development aid, Structural Adjustment Program, and Continental Union Government. We then proceed to suggest viable alternatives. Our major thesis is that these attempts failed principally because existing political and economic structures are not integrated enough and hence patently incapable of meeting the challenges of economic emancipation envisaged by African renaissance. Fundamental to this is the fact the considerations of sovereignty have often stifled private and local initiative at economic integration. We further assert that even if foreign development aid was gratuitous and an inevitable panacea for Africa's economic doldrums, African states would still need to integrate their economies and to surrender of a measure of their sovereignty in order for foreign aid to succeed. We posit that the fundamental solution to the problems of Africa's economic backwardness must not be sought in the efforts of its individual countries but in the collective effort of integrated economies of the various countries. These two reasons are fundamental to explaining the ineffectiveness of four decades of the inflow of development aid. Our methodology is to identify three main areas traditionally acknowledged as the major obstacles to Africa's economic, social, and political development, - economics, politics and security - and then proceed to demonstrate that these are hindrances that can be removed only by sub-regional economic and political amalgamation.
Publication Year: 1999
Publication Date: 1999-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 6
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