Today, humankind stands on an
extraordinary, and perhaps, seductive sets of dilemma: a global lifestyle and
value system in which the 21st century has ushered in unprecedented
global wealth; yet, such a lot that is all lavishly squandered, while Africa is
haunted by an oppressive present -- an embodiment of conflicts and devoured
natural environment.
Interview transcript
Pan Africanism, Globalisation & Regional Integration: The Impact of Trade Wars on
Developing Nations
Public lecture
series - RL Vol. XII No. 303,
MMXVIII
Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD
Chair Ethiopica Communication Infrastructure & Tunnelling Co
Elbowing the heinous crimes of slave trade, and later on, colonialism
and militarism, Pan-Africanism represents the complexities of black political
and intellectual thought over two hundred years. At a basic level, it is a
belief that African peoples, both in Africa and Diaspora taken as slave labour,
share not merely a common history, but also a common destiny.
Even today, Africa faces the
usual panoply of challenges endemic in with too few instruments and too few
resources, while also grappling with the perennial problem of non-integration. While
the top five fast growing economies are in the continent, coupled with the
impact of the recent trade war, globalisation and regional integration are
disembarking on ill-prepared African leadership… Hence,
Africa should modify regulatory policies that inflate business costs and
depress urban consumer incomes, go for bolder and more unconventional
agricultural policies and put in place a smarter set of policies for the
financial sector.
On regional integration, the
case for government investments in public goods such as roads and power
infrastructure is undeniable, as it is laying the essential foundations—the
necessary conduits and circuitry—of a modern economy. The peace initiative with
Eritrea has suddenly transformed the Horn of Africa where Somalia and Eritrea
have made peace, there is dialogue between Djibouti and Eritrea and the South
Sudanese have once more put pen to paper to make peace.
On ethnic based conflicts, the
degree of self-determination up to and including secession, has been widely
assumed by its critics that this was pronounced with the objective of
legitimising the stand that condoned the secession of Eritrea. Consistent with
this strategy, a major restructuring of Ethiopian polity has been undertaken,
setting the foundation for and cutting it up into a score of regional
governments based on linguistic, ethnic, and cultural identity. Hence,
maintaining peace, law and order are paramount if the economic trajectories
will continue as expected by IFIs that have been pumping loans and grants to
the state. Moreover, if it is going to continue to be the darling of FDI, it
must secure law and order with a view to secure more investments.
See paper here or https://www.academia.edu/37495011/Pan_Africanism_Globalisation_and_Regional_Integration_The_Impact_of_Trade_Wars_on_Developing_Nations_RL_Vol._XII_No._303_MMXVIII
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