http://www.eritrean-smart.org/content/eritreaat24-series-may-23rd-eritrea-model-social-justice-africa
*ERITREA: a Model of Social Justice in Africa*
By: Mwana wa Bilima
In the past thirty years the world has witnessed the unadulterated
expansion of free market principles to nearly every nation. While
capitalism improved conditions and opportunities for many communities in
the developing world, it has been at the expense of many more.
Unfettered capitalism has brought us brilliant architecture, but it has
also cost us many lives -- such as the thousands of workers who died in
recent construction in Qatar and Dubai. It's resulted in affordable
consumer products for working class families all over the world, but
only because millions of factory laborers are underpaid in inhumane
working conditions. More importantly, unrestrained capitalism has
cheapened our values as much as it has cheapened our products. Nearly
every national government makes decisions on what is best for the market
and its most powerful participants, assuming that what is good for the
wealthiest individuals and corporations is good for all people. Those
with less influence in the market -- the poor and working classes --
particularly those of us in Africa are a mere afterthought. We live in a
world where trickle-down economics has won -- and national policy
reflects that.
Few nations stand against this dominant view. And among these few,
Eritrea is the leader. As Eritreans enter into their 24th year of
independence, they recognize the incomparable strides their country has
made. They also recognize that the source of their success is their
unwavering values. Most important to the development of their nation is
the value of social justice -- the idea that society should guarantee
all individuals the opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
When a society leads with this end in mind, they inevitably produce
policies and systems that place the people's needs first, with free
markets existing not for their own sake but as a tool with which to
extend opportunity, especially to disadvantaged groups. In this sense
Eritrea is a good model for the rest of us in Africa.
Eritreans have championed this vision of social justice for their
people, with astounding results. Since independence, they doubled life
expectancy to one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. They have cut
the maternal mortality rate down by 70% since independence. Malaria and
polio have been eradicated, and the HIV rate is below 0.5%, the lowest
for sub-Saharan Africa. In education, they tripled the literacy rate to
over 90%, and have established a network of 7 colleges around the
country, with fully-sponsored degree programs. All this was done without
opening the country to aid. Instead, they have created innovative
programs that maximized their few resources, and engaged all Eritrean
people in the task of development. They also seem to have a very
responsible and people-oriented approach to development. Development is
not biased in favor of the major urban areas, it tend to give priority
to the remote and neglected areas of the country. Having moved from the
chaos of war to a society where nearly everyone can live healthy lives,
they now look forward to fulfilling goals such as economic advancement.
They are already making headway here, with burgeoning mining and
shipping industries. Their mining policy is a very progressive one that
doesn't allow wanton exploitation of the country's resources, yet
attractive enough for many foreign investors from Canada, China, Russia
as well as Australia to do joint venture.
There are many nations that although blessed with great resources and
strong economies, have allowed their citizens to suffer from lack of
access to nourishment, education, healthcare, and jobs. Given their
great resources, it is clear that it is not a matter of ability, but
that of willingness on the part of governments to truly put their people
first. By following Eritrea's example on how to realize social justice,
governments in Africa will find that the poorest citizens are beginning
to feel just as empowered as the wealthy to participate in the life of
the nation. Eritrea seems to have been calling for social justice as a
means to overcoming global inequality since Independence. Given the
extremes of poverty and inequality we see today, the world would do well
to heed Eritrea's call.
Happy 24th Anniversary to all Eritreans
Received on Sat May 23 2015 - 08:08:09 EDT