Africa: Free Trade not Aid
Richard N. Haass, former Director of Policy Planning in the United States Department of State and the current President of The Council on Foreign Relations argues in article on Project Syndicate:
The fact that so many problems persist despite tens of billions of dollars of assistance and years of effort is a sad reminder that aid can allow governments to undertake foolish investments that accomplish little, or can easily be siphoned off by corrupt officials. Moreover, aid is inherently uncertain, leaving Africans at the mercy of outside forces beyond their control.
Well, the depressing fact is that Africa needs external help despite the fact that it is rich with national resources and young manpower. Unfortunately, the medicine prescribed for Africa’s economic and social ills will do more harm than good in long run. As noted above, what Africa needs is not more handout from Western donors but the ability to engage free trade in the international markets. Dismantling the European unfair trade practice, in particular, the enormous agricultural subsidies will, in the long run, help alleviate the prevalent poverty in Africa than the aid promised at the G8 meeting at Gleneagles in Scotland.
I think it is time that we accept the fact that most of the money given to African countries comes back to the West through the Swiss Banks! More importantly, we acknowledge the fact that aid corrupts the recipient country and disfranchises the masses by empowering illegitimate governments thus helping undemocratic mass murderers stay in power. Aid must end…Time for free trade, free ideas and free elections.
Click here to view the full article on Project Syndicate. You may also like to click here to view the The Guardian’s Kick all agricultural subsidies (kickAAS) website.