Suchergebnisse

This article discusses the relevance of the term globalization when applied specifically to the political relationship between Europe & Africa. Focus is on two main characteristics of this relationship, economic aid & the mid-term review of the Lome IV treaty. Examined in conclusion are some proposed changes in aid packaging, treatment of human rights violations, & the promotion of democracy. E. Miller

Presents perspectives of the World Bank & the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on tax, democracy, & shrinking aid in sub-Saharan Africa, maintaining that opinions espoused by these two international financial institutions have a significant impact on global thinking about development. The focus is on the decreasing amount of aid being channeled to Africa, economic globalization, possible responses of African governments to shrinking aid, & foreign aid reform. It is noted that criticisms of the positive assessment of the prospects for free trade posited by the World Bank & the IMF emphasize that the extreme weakness of most African economies prevents them from realizing the benefits of economic globalization. Reflections of both institutions on possible linkages between increased taxation & democracy are also discussed, along with alternative points of view. It is concluded that the World Bank & IMF's suggestion that budget pressure will automatically lead to reforms is unrealistic, & external technical, moral, & economic support will be needed in order for reforms to be successfully implemented. 70 References. J. Lindroth

The current international debate on aid to Africa seems to assume that public opinion matters, ie, it presupposes the existence of a "bottom-up" relationship between public opinion & aid policy. This paper shows that it is rather the other way round. It is only possible to understand the relationship between decision making on aid & public opinion as a "top-down" relationship. The conclusion is supported by case studies of five European aid donors: France, the UK, Germany, Denmark, & the European Union. The "missing link" between opinion & policy making is mainly to be explained by the high degree of centralization of decision making & the weak link between government & society in this particular policy field. On the other hand, opinion surveys show that there are strong popular sentiments in Europe in favor of "helping the poor." Also, surveys indicate that European public opinion believes that emergency assistance basically is the rationale for development aid. The humanitarian attitudes in favor of "helping the poor" find an outlet in the growing amount of emergency assistance going to Africa, thus leaving decision making on development aid to the elite in a typical top-down way. 79 References. Adapted from the source document.