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TWN-Africa calls for role analysis of emerging powers

TWN-Africa calls for role analysis of emerging powers
By Kabanda Chulu in Accra, Ghana
Saturday August 30, 2008 [04:00]

TWN-Africa coordinator Yao Graham has challenged countries to analyse the role of emerging powers in Africa's development because their impact might be worse than what the USA and Europe has done to the continent.

And Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC) of South Africa researcher Dot Keet urged African countries to stop accepting neo-liberal concepts because they offer no hope.

And Transnational Institute (TNI) of Netherlands representative Brid Brennan said the current content of globalisation was a remnant of colonialisation.

During the 11th Africa Trade Network review meeting hosted by the Third World Network (TWN) on Thursday, Graham said the world was going towards a multi-polar situation and urged African countries to analyse the approaching dimensions.

"If we leave it open, emerging powers like China and India might do it worse than what others (Americans and Europeans) have been doing, it is true the world is going towards a multi-polar situation which is better than a uni-polar one," said Graham.

"But Africa needs to critically analyse the approaching dimensions and the role which the continent must play or else the big powers will continue exploiting resources at the expense of Africa's economic development."

And Keet said despite being in the middle of instability (global trade crisis and looming economic recession), Africa must not succumb to any neo-liberal concept.

"This is no time to succumb to any power which does not offer hope hence the need to look at home grown and pragmatic solutions," said Keet. "And let us not underplay the role of China and India in this equation because they have been riding on our backs at various forums like the G77+ China, G33+ India."

And Brennan said there was need for the social and progressive movements in developing countries to defeat the whole purpose of unfair trade and globalisation.

"Globalisation is good but the current content is unfair and although Europe is coming to Africa without the Armies (military), the concept is still a remnant of colonialism, which needs to be fought in all forms like the way Latin Americans are doing," said Brennan.

The Africa Trade Network is hosted by TWN in Ghana and it is a consortium of civil society organisations from Africa that normally advocates fair trade and good investment and economic practices.

The 11th ATN meeting was held to clarify and strengthen opposition to economic partnership agreements, unfair global trade practices and interventions required to facilitate linkages and mobilisation of key constituencies and partners.

Labels: SECURITY

posted by MrK @ 4:18 PM