Would it be better to do the unthinkable, and leave Africa to solve it's own problems?
I can see the points made below (though I admit I'm not too knowledgeable on the area), but even take Ireland, maybe the EU should let us off to solve our own problems, how would we like that?
Now consider you and your family are starving, all very well for someone a few thousand miles away saying its for your better good that ye all die (which is probably how it would pan out).
Maybe aid should be conditional on improvements in democracy, anti-corruption measures etc, but blockades or boycotts etc only ever hit the ordinary people - its tough medicine.
II'm also not sure we "owe" Africa as such Purple. European involvement in Africa was relatively short-lived. Less than 100 yrs. I think the mindset that Europe owes reparations is overplayed.
There was another thread on this topic recently. My view is that fair trade, not aid, is what Africa needs. Our trade barriers dwarf our aid contributions.But are you suggesting that fairly massive aid continue because of European past involvement ?
Wealth, consumerism, capitalism and the move away from subsistence living curtails high population growth rates. None of the above is possible without fair trade, i.e. free market capitalism.
Agreed. But it can be argued that the current aid structure, coupled with corruption and chronic over-population prevent free-market capitalism.
Perhaps what is needed to bring about this change is a dramatic shift in failed western policies. A slashiing of aid by X% or staged withdrawal, coupled with a an opening of trade-barriers.
Perhaps killing the aid industry will force the very political and social actions required to solve Africa's problems in the long-term.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?