Africa's experience with development Flashcards
Describe colonial development projects.
The ‘Civilizing Mission’ – waged work and Christianity as elevating the savage. Belgian and French concept of the évolué ( distinguishes cultural man from primitive man)
Colonial states embarked on ‘development’ projects in the post-World War II period to counteract nationalism and slow down independence
Close relationship between colonialism and contemporary international development – trusteeship role adopted by former colonial powers
‘Colonial rule embodied discourses of knowledge and power that were then reproduced in the international development industry by differentiating between, for example, the developed and underdeveloped world and more specifically between donors and recipients’
What were the Institutions of Economic Development involved?
International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRB) – precursor of World Bank - Purpose: to give long-term and substantial financial assistance.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Purpose: to give short-term financial assistance, to cover short-term deficits, for example those caused by exchange rate fluctuations.
General Agreement on Trades and Tariffs (GATT) later World Trade Organization (WTO) - Purpose: to regulate world trade and stabilize commodity prices.
What did the post-colonial development state look like?
Nationalist governments copied the European state models and adopted modernization (Eurocentric narrative of progress) & some pan-Africanism (African unity).
Nationalist governments inherited an economic model which was purely extractive - dependent on minerals or cash crops for external markets.
Emphasis on rapid transformation of African societies – large-scale projects e.g. Volta Dam, Ghana.
Why did development fail in Africa?
Liberal tradition:
- Persistence of traditional values such as kinship ties;
- Neo-patrimonialism and clientelism
- High population growth rate
- The inefficient, bureaucratic and corrupt state
- Inappropriate use of aid
Marxist/Neo-Marxist tradition:
- Dependency theory - unequal nature of world market integration – regimes of extraction
- Debt Crisis – from late 1970s -burden of debt servicing;
- Inappropriate development policy prescriptions;
- Cold war geo-politics
Proxy wars in Angola, Mozambique, Somalia, Ethiopia
- Western support for dictatorships e.g. Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire (now DRC)
How did economic liberalisation impact Africa’s debt and development problems?
Neoliberalism was promoted through Economic liberalization
Intensification of the role of the IMF & World Bank – gave loans to African countries
Proposed a limited role for the state - just an enabling and regulatory role
De-regulation of markets – promotion of free trade; focus on comparative advantage in primary commodities
Devaluation (SSA currencies devalued by 50% between 1996-1990)
Imposition of Structural Adjustment Programmes – reduction in public expenditure; cut in real wages – wage freezes and downsizing of public sector workforce
Privatization – denationalization’ contracting out, emphasis on making economies attractive for private sector and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
What was Africa’s experience of neo-liberal globalisation?
Increased poverty due to fully liberalized sectors of education, health etc.
Actual numbers of poor people (1$US per day) rose between 1993-2002; life expectancy fell; rise in illiteracy
Increased social inequalities;
Promotion of social capital; microfinance/ entrepreneurship; private property rights
Increased donor involvement in African societies
What does FDI look like in Africa?
FDI in Africa is focused on primary commodity production (strategic minerals) and services (e.g. water, health and microfinance).
In 2003, all top 10 recipients of FDI (receiving three-quarters or more of total FDI inflows to the continent) have large mineral and petroleum deposits (UNCTAD, 2005).
Land grabbing by overseas governments (Sovereign wealth funds), TNCs, national elites & disaporas
Flows to the continent remained unevenly distributed, with five countries (Angola, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia) accounting for 57 per cent of the total.
How might South-South relations provide alternative modernities?
Historicism of western modernity and development - Western trajectory as universal
Need to provincialize northern discourses and adopt a relational approach to modernities.
Multipolar development, multiple trajectories - A new geopolitics of development?
Broader geographical, ecological and political agenda of and for development.
X - Not an alternative to capitalism.
