[lbo-talk] A Changing Continent

[Joseph Wanzala]

My post was primarily informational as opposed to promotional. I will say 
however that Africa, Asia and other 'peripheral' regions have been fully 
integrated, mostly to their disadvantage to the global economy for centuries 
(if the imperial/colonial project is seen as part of 'globalization'). One 
thing to keep in mind is that globalization, in the sense of the article, 
does not necessarily mean positive social progress in Africa/Asia/Latin 
America or the West, it mainly means that while there will be on the one 
hand movement towards economic growth, these regions will also experience 
the same kinds of financial crises seen the Western economies as well as 
white collar crime, Enronesque accounting scandals etc. For a better 
understanding of this I would recommend:

http://web.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v4/v4i1a4.htm

THE CRIMINALIZATION OF THE STATE IN AFRICA. Jean-François Bayart, Stephen 
Ellis, and Béatrice Hibou. Oxford, Bloomington & Indianapolis: James Currey 
& Indiana University Press, 1999. 126 pp. cloth $ 39.95. paper $ 18.95.

"The Criminalization of the State in Africa chronicles in fascinating detail 
the totality of state-supported criminal activities. The book analyzes the 
impact of criminal activities on African nations. It examines the future of 
public life in Africa, and reveals how African states have become vehicles 
for organized crimes. It addresses the manner in which African states, 
through criminal means, cover up the corrupt practices of those in power. 
The book exposes the linkages between government and institutionalized 
fraud: smuggling, the plundering of natural resources, the growth of private 
armies, the privatization of state institutions, and the development of 
"economies of plunder." The result is an incisive and authoritative exposure 
of Africa's entanglement in a web of internal and international crimes. More 
innovative than anything else is the analysis of the internationalization of 
crime in Africa from two fronts. First, the study deals with criminal 
activities initiated in Africa by corporate officials, employees of 
parastatal organizations, and government officials at both the national and 
continental levels. Secondly, the book examines Africa's role in the 
internationalization of certain criminal activities involving non-Africans, 
but supported by African entrepreneurs and policy-makers."


>From: "Michael Dawson" <MDawson at pdx.edu>
>Reply-To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>To: <lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org>
>Subject: RE: [lbo-talk] A Changing Continent
>Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:05:31 -0700
>
> > Joseph Wanzala posted:
> >
> > > Yes, Africa is a land of wars, poverty and corruption. The situation 
>in
> > > places like Darfur, Sudan, desperately cries out for more media
> > attention
> > > and international action. But Africa is also a land of stock markets,
> > high
> > > rises, Internet cafes and a growing middle class. This is the part of
> > Africa
> > > that functions. And this Africa also needs media attention, if it's to
> > have
> > > any chance of fully joining the global economy.
> >
> > Yes, I agree. But how many marxists notice anything except malnutrition
> > and disease in the developing  world?
> >
> > Ulhas
>
>Two points:
>
>1. So, you two think publicizing the upwardly mobile in Africa and India
>will lead to those places "fully joining the global economy," which I
>presume to be your way of saying "getting rich like the G-7."  Fascinating,
>at several levels.
>
>2. Hey, Ulhas:  Why do people go to medical school?  That's right:  To 
>solve
>problems.  That's why they mostly talk about diseases.  Same thing with
>Marxists and pretty much all other scientists.  Ask Jared Diamond.
>
>___________________________________
>http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk