>Woj Writes
> Step 1. Abolish the existing African states, and replaced them with
> pan-African structure of territorial administrative units based on tribal
> and ethnic affiliations. The federal government would have the power
> comparable to the US fed - control of the military, legislative, fiscal
and
> the power to override all local decisions. This move would reduce the
level
> of internal strife currently under way in Africa. BTW, pan-Africanism is
> not a new idea in that continent.
>
What has been the block to pan africanism? If your initial analysis is correct it savages your proposed solution. Think about it. If as you claim existing African states can't impose rule over a couple of existing ethnic/linguistic divisions what makes you think a federated government could over the whole continent? More to the point though is that there is a control group in Africa which vitiates your whole historical analysis. Ethiopia was never colonized and is one of the oldest and historically one of the most coherent states in all of Africa; it is also by the way one of the poorest countries in the world (as measured by gdp per capita). So much for coherency being a sufficient basis for development.
> Step 2. "Re-colonize" African economy by selling development rights to
> outside investors, in the same way former Soviet block countries sold
their
> aging plants to Western or Asian companies. This would provide
development
> capital and training that would boost local capacity and develop skilled
> labor. Of course the central/federal Pan-African l government would
> regulate that development with an iron first and would not allow any
> neo-liberal nonsense of individual companies doing as they please.
> Individual companies would be guaranteed stability and the protection of
> their investment in exchange of their acceptance of strong regulation.
This
> arrangement would not only build local capacity, but also integrate Africa
> to the global economy.
>
>
African countries are already well integrated into the international
economy. The problem is really about how they are integrated. What makes
you think western companies would want an Africa as you propose it, ie one
that could negotiate on equal terms? What makes you think that such a
coherent pan-africanist state would not exacerbate regional/ethnic tensions?
Travis