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Saturday, April 28, 2007

Article “Africa's Shady Politicians Are at Root of Continent's Destitution” by George Ayittey
Taken from http://www.aworldconnected.org/research/pubid.2839/

research_detail.asp

REFLECTION
Look at Africa, already entangled in “steaming squalor, misery, deprivation, and chaos”, as quoted from the article. As if these weren’t enough, Africa is also too deeply sunk in poverty and members of the government are too busy enjoying themselves with the riches from globalisation and oppressing the people to even care about the situation. There’s recent proof that four out of ten Africans are barely surviving in absolute poverty, and sadly, this trend is increasing. This is credited to the corrupt politicians and other members which are part of the higher status in society, who use funds for their own purposes and do not include the welfare of the Africans in their agenda. Evidence from the UN reveals that more than $200 billion was looted by these members of the elite and NONE of this was used to salvage the poverty situation in Africa. What’s worse is that, the government refused to take the blame and instead, attributed the downfall of Africa to uncontrollable external factors: racism and discrimination from other countries, an international economic system unfavourable to them and insufficient foreign aid.

Though Africa is still lagging behind the world in terms of globalisation progression, it still benefits from globalisation - improving economy, increased food supplies and probably a better life. Unfortunately, its corrupt government chose to invest the money, not on profitable investments, but on the President’s largesse. Though globalisation has offered Africa a way out of its poverty, a salvation from its hellish days, but the government has practically wrecked this chance of rebirth. What globalisation has offered them-profits, wealth, higher living standards, better lives for their people, are wasted in the hands of those useless politicians. In a bid to pursue fame and wealth, political leaders toss aside the welfare of Africans and concentrate instead, on worthless matters concerning the black market and handing out rewards to their lapdogs. It is no wonder that Africa is quickly becoming the poorest country in the world, and with it comes starved Africans, a stagnant economy and a government deemed impractical and “useless” (though that is somewhat true). The government does not cherish the benefits of globalisation, and instead chose to exploit it.

On the other hand, the writer of the article chose to blame globalisation partially for Africa’s poverty. Globalisation has opened doors to the West, and being naïve politicians hungry for wealth, and more wealth, they put implicit trust in the West. Africans gradually got hooked onto food aids, imports and disaster relief aids, and when they were discarded by the West, they sunk into more poverty. Globalisation, indeed, does no good to the poor and it will be the total reverse if the country was wealthy. In an indirect way, globalisation has allowed Africa to fall prey to the West, in addition to its corrupt leaders who know next to nothing. If Africa never learns how to make full use of the benefits globalisation offers, and instead chooses to let itself sink into absolute despair, maybe it deserves poverty then. What Africa should do now is to welcome a growing economy and a qualified government. Only then can Africa pull itself out of poverty.

Political Expert, Vanessa :D

Labels: Africa, globalisation, politics

Globalised @ 10:15 PM