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From: samuel Igbu (ypfdjbc@gmail.com)
Date: Thu Apr 07 2011 - 06:37:30 EDT
Amanuel Mahdere
Given the current global reality,the powerful countries, not only enjoy a
greater socio-economic and political sovereignty but also freely coerce and
manipulate the poorer ones in a bid to satisfy their insatiable appetite for
exploitation. As such, the global pattern of economic partnership has
changed into a one that can be called opportunism. No country develops its
economy in isolation. And this fundamental fact makes partnership an
important element in the economic and political life of countries. But if
partnership is to be based on mutual respect and cooperation, the balancing
of relations between the partners is a prerequisite. Unfair partnership
exposes the weak links of one of the partners to exploitation. This is true
because those at the commanding heights of the world have unbridled desire
to secure their place at the top of the global economic pyramid. Every
country has its own comparative advantage. And if proportional development
is to be achieved at a regional or global level, the comparative advantages
of different countries have to be integrated for common use. In the case of
economic partnership, the issue of securing ones own interests before
anything else
comes first. But for this to happen, the partners should have complete
Self-Reliance For Warranted Development freedom in their dealings. In other
words, the difference in economic, political and military capabilities
between the partners should not be
an impediment to establish free and fair partnership. If the partnership to
be formed doesn’t fulfi ll this condition or even goes as far as violating
sovereignty of one of the partners, better to call it master-serf
relationship than a partnership. As the current global order
is not firmly established in the principles of balanced and fair
partnership, one can confidently say that partnership as a concept is
vanishing those days. Because of this, there are a number of third
world countries who continue to be administered by the hidden hands of
outsiders. According to experts, our planet earth is believed to have
various resources that can sustain twice the current world population.
However, these resources are being excessively used and wasted by a
handful of special interest group who also reap the benefits of global
economic activities. And these are the people who are striving to liquidate
justice and fairness so as to control the world and its resources. What this
really shows is that colonization has different phases. It is totally wrong
to believe
that the anti-colonial rhetoric has died with the end in direct
colonization. Best example of this is the post-independence realities of
African countries. If we are to be pragmatic, decolonization in Africa
hasn’t paved the way for complete
freedom. But rather it gave way for a neo-colonization. And neo-colonization
has not only opened the gate for covert outside intrusion but also
inculcated dependence mentality in the minds of many Africans. Nothing is
worse than claiming to have an independent government while at the same time
calculating national budget from aid money obtained from former colonial
powers. Besides, the fact that many African governments execute with out
question the economic and political decisions outlines by their Western
masters is saddening. Africa is rich in natural resources both in terms of
quantity and quality. So, taking this fact in to
consideration, when it was freed from the yoke of colonization, many had
hoped it will enter in to a bright era. But since that beacon of hope
vanished from the outset, Africa still retains the image of Dark Continent.
And as the history of the past 50 years reveal, Africa continues to be a
land of poverty,
famine, civil wars, backwardness, etc. All of these problems have been
complicating in the long run and solving them requires strong commitment and
initiative from within. If feasible measures are taken, African resources,
though outsiders may have fiercely exploited them for more than hundred
years before and after independence, still have the capacity to revive the
hopes of development vanished 50 years ago. But these measures have to be
preceded by changing the prevailing understanding about development in
Africa. The notion of “No development is feasible with out outside help” has
to be uprooted from African minds. It is this notion which colonizers have
deliberately,instilled in many African minds during colonial years.
Therefore, before any development campaign,is initiated, decolonization of
the mind has to take place. And because,it is impossible to walk with
others’,legs, Africa, even in the long run,,has to have its own legs to walk
up,the ladder of prosperity. In other,words, Africa has to rely on
selfreliance.
Sincerely
*YPFDJ British Columbia Chapter*
YPFDJ Goal and Purpose
- Our goal is to build a strong, conscious and patriotic youth movement.
Our purpose is:
- To raise the awareness and level of organisation of Eritrean youth to
serve our nation
- To reassert the identity, patriotism and unity of Eritrean youth
- To promote the participation of Eritrean Youth in the national
reconstruction of Eritrea as well as guarding the sovereignty of Eritrea
- To enhance the position and influence of Eritrean Youth in their
respective countries of residence.
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