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Debate
Afghanistan: Development matters, not counter-narcotics
Letters to the editor
Tackling migration regionally
11/2005 |
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Letters to the editor
Elitist perspective
Anchor countries –
partners in global development,
D+C 5/2005, p. 204
The minister’s article is fine in the sense that she shows concern for “inclusivist growth”. Indeed, anyone familiar with recent developments in India or China will know that economic expansion does not benefit everyone equally and that bitter poverty persists in both countries – and, in many cases, is even growing worse. From the German perspective, it probably seems plausible to define the world’s most populous regions as “anchor countries”, forge alliances with them and try to cooperate on poverty reduction and other worthy goals, as was also summed up in your focus section in October.
Nonetheless, the approach does not convince me. I know how ill-equipped some of India’s best recognised social scientists are in terms of dealing with the abysmal stratification here. Foreign consultants are not better equipped to tackle the matter. We talk of globalisation! We have no clue even of how to achieve an Indianisation of our country – if “India” is to stand for what is normal in Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata. Sustainable development is all about sustainability from an elitist perspective.
For a long time, the international development community was deeply in love with Chandrababu Naidu as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh because of his e-governance projects and his interest in rural development. The village people themselves were unimpressed. Doing research there, I was astonished of how unpopular the State Government had become. People were suffering and dying – and the State Government didn’t even know. But when Chandrababu was kicked out in the elections, development professionals were utterly surprised.
In this sense, I am afraid that the “anchor countries” idea will result in the rich nation elites cozying up with those of poor countries. That is a win-win situation for all concerned: all that matter, that is. Please don’t consider this a value judgement. It’s meant as a reality check.
Aditi Roy Ghatak, Kolkata
NEPAD deserves support
Globalisation blocks
regional integration,
D+C 3/2005, p. 116
I think the article has been well researched and prepared. I would however like to comment on a few pertinent issues that I feel the article left out. I feel that Henning Melber has not come out clearly with viable solutions to the problems despite his critic. This is the approach adopted by most scholars over time and I think it is also our moral responsibility, while presenting reviews, also to recommend other options.
For instance, though the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) clearly requires structural and fundamental reforms, I think it is also a good initative that needs to be supported. After all the idea has not yet crystallised and is inhibited greatly by national interests which supercede regional interests. Until this aspect of international relations is addressed for the time being NEPAD stands out as a great idea. We need advise on strategies and avenues that could be adopted for harmonising regional blocks with global paradigms.
Kenn Esau, Meru Project
Co-ordination Office, Nairobi
Still too optimistic
ActionAid: aid does not reach the poor,
D+C 7/2005, p. 271
The calculations by ActionAid showing “only a third of the international development assistance actually reaches the poor in developing countries” might still be too optimistic. Many projects have no immediate contact with the poor at all – especially the projects involving huge amounts of money. Even if you evaluate projects specifically designated to “the poorest of the poor” you have to conclude that only between 10 and 20% of the funds reach the poor. It is mainly the academic middle class of Africa’s capitals that manages to receive the money in remuneration for services granted. This is important in a way as these academics or experts were trained for decades to do just that. But we should be aware of it.
Andreas Peltzer,
Treasurer of the Namibian Catholic Bishops’
Conference, Windhoek
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