"I love that you've brought this to attention. An extensive database of uncommon but resistant and hardy plants/foods could be developed and organized by climate. Ease of growth and processing should also be taken in to account. I will try to…"
A crash course in changing the world.
Europeanization.
When you think of it, and I know this is not the most popular opinion in the more militant circles, the biggest driving force of democracy and prosperity is Europeanization. The process of Europeanization has taken countless countries which were on the verge of losing the little new democracy they had left and gave them an incentive to work hard and get things done. The carrot of being part of the EU isn't only a nice thing for European states. post communists, Balkans and even Turkey have moved closer to a stable economy and government for the promise of being part of the Eurozone. a zone promises to give any state everything it needs to tie its fate with the richest countries in the world and begin to prosper.
So why not Africa?
Some say it's because they are not part of Europe. but then again, neither is Cyprus... or Turkey, and no one really contests their candidacy. If we're honest, within the next decade or two, the Newer European states will prosper and wages will rise, leading to a need for more cheap labor states. What then?
Lets imagine a day when a small African country reaches the minimal goals of the EU to be a candidate. there are a few with such potential. They would need to be democratic with a good human right record, but they would also need to have a stable economy. this would make it worth while for Europe to open up her trade barriers and give free trade to that state, hopefully starting a domino effect.
Why am I talking about something that already exists rather than a new idea? because we don't need new ideas. Capitalism has all the answers. it works well for any country which is given a fare chance by its people and government. it is the single greatest cause of prosperity around the world (the richest and healthiest states in the world are capitalist).
People tend to blame capitalism for the failure of the poorer states. there is a wide spread misconception that capitalist states need to take advantage of poor states in order to survive. this is not true. it's the sort of thing Carl Marx used to say (and we know he made up most of his facts). in fact, the best thing for the worlds capitalist markets is a prosperous world. it leads to more people to sell to.
So, in my view, we don't need a new system, just to bring the good old system to those places where it's missing. if African farmers could sell to the world freely they would prosper. so would textile and all other labor intensive goods. they are always the first to lift their country up from poverty. but they don't have a chance. corruption is one reason, lack of a proper democracy is another. these are the ways to make a better financial system, just bring it to the rest of the world.
Those are my views, though written a little too fast. I hope it's clear.
Views: 27
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Comment by Massive Attack on April 5, 2010 at 6:08pm
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Interesting...what about the drag of countries like Greece
On the more prosperous ones...swiss didn't join the EU cuz of
This,right? From what I've read, aren't countries like France
&Germany faced with dealing with Greece debt...
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Comment by Omri or something on April 5, 2010 at 6:16pm
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It's true. but it's also sort of a good thing. you join a community that helps you up if you fall. the rich have to help the poor so no one can fall too far.
the swiss, Norway and Iceland for example are now seeing this and thinking of joining. if Iceland had the same European backing as Greece maybe it would have been bailed out too. so I bet they're going to join as soon as they get back on their feet.
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@A.V. Koshy - Thanks for that. I'm not from Europe actually. I don;t mean foe anyone to have to join Europe in anything. That would be pointless. I meant Africa should reach a point where they are stable financially. capitalism works. and the European monetary system has done wonders. so if, for example, African states become stable under European standard, European trade will fill that country leading to prosperity. this same system is true for India, America, China and so on. stability leads to commerce.
On the point of Neo-colonialism, I slightly disagree. I don't think the west is bringing India down at all. But that's a different story.
Thanks again for the comment.
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Sounds like a poor deal for the rich countries. What's in it for them? I will agree with av on: you don't want to end up like America...
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All capitalisms work on stability. that's why they work so well with democracy. that is also why India is doing so well,as apposed to other groups who's only real cash flow comes from one natural resource.
The Arab nations, Africa, and most of Asia are not a good role model. China is only working because it's turning to capitalism rather than a purely communist system. south America is growing as well (though they have a little too much medaling going on by the US and other countries.).
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Comment by Rahul Dewanjee on April 5, 2010 at 7:33pm
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I will give +1 for vision for what Omri has proposed though I don't see whether this could happen in the present form of what constitutes a "member" of the European Union.
What Omri seems to propose is a healthy way to align risk-reward balance that can potentially create a process to engage disparate African states to bring in functional democracy, create institutional framework for commerce, establish secular institutions of justice, make efficiency pervasive in African productivity and create broader alignment with goals of long term peace and prosperity. There has to be some form of reward to instill stability, rule of law and make groundwork to integrate Africa into global trade & commerce "systems".
Whether to be a part of the current European Union is open to a broader debate and especially if that would ever be possible to make European members of EU see any merit to include Africa in their over burdened "Union", I think African leaders should reframe the ideals of European Union and create a pan-Africa policy framework and improve their governance. Some of us can argue or simply admonish Capitalism, but I bet we could ever create something that can replace it. Capitalism works when functional democracy is in place. If Africa aspires to be seriously taken by the global community, the people of Africa should wisely choose their leaders and African political leadership must choose to bring in functional democracy and create groundwork for business to start and grow. Once Africa would seriously progress in that direction, both institutional capital and private capital would have reasons to invest in Africa and support the local entrepreneurs, farmers, artists and integrate all forms of "economic capital" to rebuild Africa. With all due respect, there simply is no way but to strengthen "capitalism" in Africa and make governance and accountability - two important ideals of any democratic society pervasive in African social, political, institutional, professional, commercial, education and legal system and bolster the profound vision of building "reciprocity" and "globality" as relevant contexts for a progressive Africa.
African people would need to believe in this larger vision of progress and in my opinion, the leadership of Africa has to believe that there will be no short cuts, no quick fixes but painful, arduous path to progress.
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Comment by Ternura Rojas on April 5, 2010 at 7:39pm
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All opinions are welcome here Omri. Yours is not unpopular at all, at least for me.
I must point out that there are some sorts of economic unification projects currently ongoing in America (ALCA and ALBA agreements). It is only matter of "switchig the chip". BUT any unification should be carefully planned and "controlled" in order to make sure that all parties get the benefit. On that sense ALCA agreement is not my ideal scenario of unification :-). T
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Thanks Rahul, That was beautifully put.
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Comment by Chema Caillet-Bois on April 5, 2010 at 7:52pm
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As Omri pointed out, capitalism has some wonderful positive attributes, however, I think there is a fundamental flaw. It is essentially a system of competition between firms designed in order to distribute resources and create prosperity through profit. Therein lies the problem: due to prosperity being measured in profits, profit becomes the primary goal; global, long-term prosperity (which is the ultimate goal) can then be justifiably pushed aside in lieu of a competitive profit machine.
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I agree. and so all capitalism need checks and balances. there should be laws in place to keep it in check. but I like the fact that it makes it so people can be out for themselves and still better humanity. there is an intensive for people to make other people happy. that's what makes money.
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