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MAJOR
MATTER FIVE:
Building and sustaining equitable political and economic
relationships between African states and the rest of the world.
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Overview of Major Matter Five
It is clear that the actions of major multinational organizations
in combination with increased bilateral assistance from major-power
nation-states will play a significant role in the ability of African
states to build and sustain equitable political and economic relationships
in the larger global community in the future.
The legacies of colonialism combined with almost half a century
of complex political and economic problems have resulted in conditions
of enormous political and economic inequality in the relationships
between many African states and the remainder of the world. While
complete collapse of economic strategies and political authority
in African states is less likely to occur today than in past decades,
conditions of economic and political fragility are still widespread.
Economic and related political problems are further enhanced by
continuing imbalance of growth in multiple economic sectors, shortage
of resources to build and sustain viable infrastructures for future
development, decades of entrenched poverty, lack of international
confidence in and promotion of African political stability, and
the absence -- in many states -- of legitimate and institutionalized
systems of shared power between the structures of government and
diverse voices within civil society.
Unfortunately, the theme of building and sustaining more equitable
political and economic relationships between Africa and the greater
world community is somewhat of "a chicken and egg" dilemma.
Important international actors outside of Africa continually demand
major changes in African governance and economic practice before
greater financial assistance is offered or regulatory concessions
are made.
African states counter that while more democratically political
and market-oriented economic changes are probably necessary and
needed, such monumental transformation and re-legitimization of
existing political and economic institutions will take considerable
time to complete across the continent. And without a large infusion
of external support during the initial stages of promoting and managing
political and economic change, the best of plans could falter due
to the lack of resources to execute plans and meet expectations
-- leaving the door open for opportunists and dissidents to derail
or side-step the entire process.
The old saying -- all things in balance -- applies in this
situation. African states must have the will and courage to initiate
transformational political and economic change from within -- and
such efforts must be supported and rewarded immediately by significantly
greater external assistance from the international community. Doors
to better terms of trade must be opened and efforts to diversify
African economies must be empowered by external aid. Democratically-elected
leaders must be encouraged to develop civil societies that support
inclusion and diversity. To do this, they must be given the economic
tools and assistance to build healthy and prosperous societies that
will support democracy as a preferred -- not imposed -- form of
governance.
A politically and economically healthy Africa is in the long range
interests of all global actors. Eliminating poverty and oppression
in Africa is simply good policy. Even if not done because it is
the morally-right thing to do, greater global assistance to Africa's
political and economic development is the realpolitic,
strategically "right thing to do" to undermine desperation,
terrorism and fanaticism -- increasing security for the haves
as well as the have nots.
Put simply -- ALL AFRICA MATTERS politically and
economically to the global community!
Major Sub-themes
I. Role of major international governmental and non-governmental
organizations (multilateral relationships) in building and sustaining
equitable political and economic relationship between African states
and the rest of the world.
1. United Nations
2. G8 (The Group of 8)
3. World Bank & International Monetary Fund
4. WTO
5. African Union
6. European Union
7. Regional Organizations in Africa and worldwide
8. Transnational and Multinational Coorporations
9. Non-Governmental Organizations
II. Role of state-to-state agreements (bilateral relationships)
in building and sustaining equitable political and economic relationships
between African states and the rest of the world.
1. State-to-state relationships within Africa
2. United States relationships with African states
3. China's relationships with African states
4. Former colonial powers (GB, France, Portugal, Belgium, Germany,
Italy) relationships with African states
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(Currently under construction.)
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