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Aid in Africa
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Kevin Myres has written another article which has caused a bit of stir. This time on Africa. Myres laments that aid to Africa has only allowed its population of miserables to multiply and propped up several vile regimes in the process. The Indo letters page was bombarded. Then in today’s Irish Times Bryan Mukandi from Zimbabwe expresses his shock and horror at what Myers had written.
The reaction on the Indo letters page to Myres’ piece tells us two things. First, people still care about Africa. And second, many share Mr. Myres frustration and despair.
Given the overall record in Sub-saharan Africa since the withdrawal of the colonial powers between the 50s and the 80s, it is understandable that many people have given up hope. People in rich countries can feel betrayed too, when a country they have supported and was making progress is suddenly swept back to square one by another coup d’état. Sometimes it all seems so futile.
Yet I find it disheartening that the debate on Africa has taken on a kind of fatalism. Ah, sure it’s the Dark Continent, a basket case. This attitude misses the fact that Africa is huge and varied and that some parts are making progress while others are not. Last month, for example, a World Bank report found than democracy in Botswana continues to mature and that its political leaders have led it from being one of the poorest in Africa at independence to being at the top end of middle income countries now. Botswana proves that Africa is not condemned to deplorable governance and endless misery.
We often hear about African countries closing ranks. Sadly that is often the case. But nuances are emerging. For example, Kenya’s prime minister Raila Odinga recently spoke out against Mugabe, but there too internal political games might well be at play. The reality behind this is complex. The African experience of Western colonialism – which was so recent and brutal – has shaped a particular world view. Whether we like it or not, the world looks very different to African leaders. There is a fundamental ideological spit which prevents any real dialogue from taking place. Having said that, it seems undeniable that a gradual willingness on the part of moderate African leaders to crticise brutal regimes would be a vital step forward for the continent.
Aid too is a complex issue and it appears that many economists doubt its long term value in terms of development. That said, in a situation of crisis, such as war, famine or epidemc, aid is nothing less than essential and those who would deny it for some ideological position do not possess a human heart. The other point about aid is that nowadays no-one is under the illusion that aid alone can bring Africa’s worst performers, or nations elsewhere for that matter, to where they need to be. In tandem with aid other measures are required – a consistent and agenda free diplomatic approach, strict management and oversight of aid programs, close co-operation with local initiatives on the ground, fairer international trade regimes, and perhaps, in worst case scenarios military intervention. Unfortunately these latter components are often missing or applied for the wrong reasons in the wrong way.
Before we explode in anger at Myers’ uncompromising and seemingly heartless words, we need to appreciate that his piece comes from the pen of seasoned polemicist. He has honed his arsenal – and when he fires the results can be devastating. But his job is not to educate or enlighten – merely to provoke. In that he succeeds brilliantly. I welcome his opening of the debate on Africa, though it’s unfortunate that Irish media remain silent on Africa until a controversial shot is fired. It would be a regrettable side effect of Myer’s piece if some readers swallowed his arguments to re-inforce their own prejudices. But that is the price of freedom of expression. In any case, this is an eddy of a breath of a puff, and doubtless the Irish media will let the subject of Afica drop as suddenly as it picked it up.
I digress, and I’d like to return to a few points in the article. Mr. Myres inadvertantly raises a crucial point. He pointed out that Japan, China, Poland, Germany, and others suffered horrendous catastophes, yet they found their way back to the path towards progress and prosperity. True, but here is the nub: these countries have a history and culture which is better adjusted to the requirements of a functioning, central government geared for progress. No system is a guarantee against calamity, but the absence of certain values and norms invite leaders to view the apparatus of state as a set of tools for personal advancement. This is a controversial view – and I would emphasise that my point about Africa having an unfortunate starting point is historico-cultural not racial. That should not need to be said, but unfortunately it does. Africa’s horrific experience of colonialism and its own cultural baggage left it poorly equiped to deal with the nightmare of the modernity it faced. Not only that, but it wasn’t even left alone to sort things out – the Cold war first, and a form of neo-colonial meddling now is anything but helpful. Darfur is one case, so too are the seeds of the ugly and shameful genocide in Rwanda. At home in the west so to speak, we are obsessed about the harsh effects of globalisation – farmers marching about WTO deals, credit crunch flowing across the face of the financial world like dominoes, outsourcing, offshoring and so on. Globalisation is harsh and volatile even for rich, robust democracies. Imagine how it is effecting the weakest players who are so poorly equiped to deal with it and who have little power in the global institutions to make any difference and where their interests are often bulldozen by those of the West.
Again to Myers’ comparison. China’s presence on the list signals that even where progress and prosperity are possible, democracy doesn’t necessarily follow. Africa teaches a similar lesson as the ongoing adventure in Iraq: nation building and democracy are not some kind of default settings that kick in when all else is cleared away. Like vulnerable seeds in the perpetually volatile soil of human nature, they require patience and constant care. When they wither, the only response is to replant, and replant again if necessary. And democracy is that peculiarly delicate plant that can only be grown and not transplanted.
If we work with Africans to help them build functioning societies and if we fail, they cannot walk away, and neither should we. We just replant, and try harder next time.
I think that you give Myers way too much credit.
Very interesting post! I think you’re very close to the root cause of the problem when you point out that sub-Saharan countries don’t have cultures on which to base a modern society:
“True, but here is the nub: these countries have a history and culture which is better adjusted to the requirements of a functioning, central government geared for progress. No system is a guarantee against calamity, but the absence of certain values and norms invite leaders to view the apparatus of state as a set of tools for personal advancement. This is a controversial view – and I would emphasise that my point about Africa having an unfortunate starting point is historico-cultural not racial.”
You really shouldn’t shirk from the racial explanation though. As I have written about rather extensively on my blog, different human populations are simply different. There’s nothing “racist” in noting this — it’s simply race realism. The fact that different groups of people are different from one another does NOT mean that some groups should be treated badly. It simply means that the different groups are different.
Kevin Myers’ article was harsh, but accurate. Unfortunately, he didn’t offer any alternatives — and there are some out there. As I wrote on my blog earlier today:
It’s too bad Myers didn’t offer some alternative suggestions as to what to do about the problems in Africa. I don’t have any answers, but some intelligent (and brave) folks out there do. As I said in the comments in a previous post:
The West has treated — and still is treating — Africans abominably, there is no doubt about that. But our behaviours do not account for why sub-Saharan Africans do poorly in terms of nation building or on the international political/economic scene.
The explanation lies in intelligence (IQ) as well as temperament….
[I]f we really want to help Africans, we need to find out the true root of their problems and if we don’t discuss the IQ we will never be able to rule it in or out as one of the things that needs to be fixed or at least mediated (of course we also need to do other things to help Africans like engage in proper trade with them, etc.)
More specifically, from Steve Sailer:
Of course, if, like most American opinion-leaders, you never allowed yourself to think about IQ, then you wouldn’t know that the sad state of Africa stems in part from IQ deficiencies.
Nor would you know that it’s likely that Africa’s average IQ could be raised.
Indeed, the heavyweight psychometricians backed by the much-denounced Pioneer Fund, such as Lynn, the late Hans Eysenck, and Arthur Jensen, have long pointed to vitamin and mineral deficiencies in Third World diets as a likely contributor to low average IQs.
The Pioneer Fund website says specifically:
“Some research has demonstrated that food supplements have the potential to enhance cognitive ability. Most non-genetic explanations for IQ deficits in non-developed countries have focused entirely on cultural factors such as prejudice, poor education, and poverty. The biological, but not genetic contribution to cognitive ability has largely been ignored. However, we do know that minute daily additions of essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and other trace elements can be critical. (Malnutrition in childhood is a different phenomenon.) There may even be group differences in the optimal daily requirements of these substances. Research of this kind carried out in developing countries such as South Africa could pay great dividends.”
Now, in a stunning vindication for IQ realists, the Associated Press has reported (March 25):
The brainpower of entire nations has diminished because of a shortage of the right vitamins, and slipping nutrients into people’s food seems to be the only solution, a new U.N. survey says.”
This survey, co-produced by UNICEF and the Micronutrient Initiative, begins:
“Few outside specialist circles are aware of the scale and severity of vitamin and mineral deficiency, or of what it means for individuals and for nations. It means the impairment of hundreds of millions of growing minds and the lowering of national IQs… And it means the large-scale loss of national energies, intellects, productivity, and growth.”
For Sailer’s links and to read the whole piece click here.
The ICI and other PC thinkers will do Africans (or other disadvantaged peoples) no favours by stiffling the discussion of the problems in Africa. What they will be doing — as nearly all PC thinking does — is to continue to prolong the suffering of Africans, just as the never ending donations do. But that, then, is perhaps the point — if we don’t ever truly help these people, they won’t ever become our economic competitors.
Given the overall record in Sub-saharan Africa since the withdrawal of the colonial powers between the 50s and the 80s, it is understandable that many people have given up hope. People in rich countries can feel betrayed too, when a country they have supported and was making progress is suddenly swept back to square one by another coup d’état. Sometimes it all seems so futile.
This is utter horseshit, from beginning to end. The fact that it takes a Kevin Myers article as its inspiration ought to have been warning enough for any person who doesn’t still yearn for the glory days of John Bull kicking around the fuzzy-wuzzies and the teagues.
You really believe that foreign colonial powers left Africa and became disinterested, uninvolved parties? It’s not like Irish UN troops weren’t seeing the extent of the Belgians “leaving” in the Congo forty years ago - or the unfortunate contingent now out in Chad, propping up an unsavoury French client regime.
I suppose that you also think that the recently-convicted coup plotters Mr. Mann and his mercenary colleagues were able to operate under the noses of British intelligence without high-up approval of their efforts? Grow up, and stop your silly whining about how Africans ae the White Man’s Burden, etcetc.
p.s. to “Hibernia Girl” - f*ck off.
Niall,
Fair point. I stress I dont’ agree with him. But he has opened up the debate. Sadly we don’t here enough about Africa in Ireland, what we hear seems to one dimensional - stories about another crisis etc. And instead of being presented with an Africa that is vast and varied, multicultural and outrageously beautiful, we get the drab, grey stories all the time. There are success stories in Africa. There are people there making a difference. There is progress. But we never get this fuller picture.
Hibernia Girl,
I utterly reject the IQ explanation. Even the measurement of IQ is horrendously suspect. Yes, diets matter, but improving nutrition is a goal everywhere. This doesn’t give us anything new. The issue of IQ has too many echos of the eugenics movement of the beginning of last century. I’m sorry but I find it has racial overtones. It is a very ugly place to go. Do diets need to be improved - yes. Does there need to be work done in getting young people to attend school, yes. But none of this is new.
EWI
You spend most of your time supposing what I think - “I suppose you think….” - and guess what, you’re wrong. I reiterate your words “I suppose you think… “. Yes I do. It would be great if you’d do the same.
Kevin Myers is a man obsessed with the colonial past of a foreign power. It colours everything he writes and skews his analysis to something right off what was written by journos during the war of jenkin’s ear by jingo. The colonial powers raped and abused the African nations and left them a poisonous legacy. However thats not to leave the African Govts. off the hook. Its their responsibility now to move forward. Cause no one else will do it for them. Unfortunately the wrongs of the past are rarely if ever righted and indeed people like Myers are all too happy to white wash the sins of the colonial powers in Africa and nearer colonies. But like Tomaltach says there are rays of hope in Africa. Sub saharan GDP is rising as a whole and there are some consistently stable areas. Initiatives like Ibrahim (cant remember second name) that millionaire who leadershiop programme seeks to reward leaders who fight corruption and act responsibly. There does need to be a growth in civic mindedness in Africa. It will take two equal partners to achieve it - the west and the Africa states. Indeed while i still cant stand myers at least he raises a debate. I am sure it must be the way the settlers in Rhodesia are being treated that gets up his nose. What a man!
EWI: p.s. to “Hibernia Girl” - f*ck off
Charming. Excellent rebuttal points. Good reasoning! (And, btw, no I won’t.)
Tomaltach: Even the measurement of IQ is horrendously suspect.
Not at all.
Fairly incenciary article by Mr. Meyers alright. I do happen to think that the miracle of oil has allowed the world’s population has grown beyond the point that can be sustained long term. It is a bald scientific fact that populations follow the trend of lag, log, stationary and decline. Stationary is going to be nasty people. It’s going to be a bloody battle for the resources to live. I think the topic of population control should be on the agenda worldwide and action should be taken to stave off that eventuality
id est, racism.
If IQ is so important, how come the people who bang on about it all the time are fruitcake racist morons?
If you want to read a good book on why africa is why it is why it is and why europe is why it is. Read Guns Germs and Steel by Jarad Diamond. Excellent read. Amoung the reasons. Food, climate, geographical proximity, etc etc nothing to do with race mearly we in the west live in the best place.
Because we had the best land, best climate, best crops in Europe we did not need to dedicate some many people to food production i.e. ever since the earliest settlements in Europe societies could afford to have people working dedicated to innovating (like coming up with pottery) rather then food producion as food was easy to grow. In Africa everyman women and child was needed to get food so other activities just did not happen. Over thousands of years that led to what we have no.
The problem with Africa is in many ways Africa itself not africans. Indeed if you look at the places in Africa that are doing the best it is places like Botswana that have the best climates and basically allow people to be stable enough in life to look after things other then life.
Bullshit please link to the actually studies not some one quoting them the actually scienctific peer-reviewed medical journal. Because most studies on vitiam supplements have shown them to have little effect on anything.
Nutrition is very important, but as for supplements…