mikema63 wrote:For what it's worth there are positive signs of economic development in Africa. It's average growth is about 5% with countries like Ethiopia growing at 10% GDP.
Some consider it one of the great successes of Western foreign aid, development aid, and international institutions. Economic development in Africa was considered a priority of our foreign policy under the Obama administration.
Many would probably argue that it's other factors that have helped Africa, China has also targeted Africa for development.
For what it's worth to point out pew polling shows that Africa is a majorly pro us region that views the us, foreign aid, and American "soft power" as overwhelmingly positive. Which doesn't say we actually helped but at least suggests that Africans think we have.
Some background on population growth in Africa:
http://www.un.org/popin/icpd/conference/bkg/pop.htmlAnd the global political-economy of land purchasing. Also how poor farmers are being driven off their land. It's about water and food security for rich countries. But those rich countries increasing are ME gulf states and East Asian states rather than the traditional Western 'rich countries' Noam claims are responsible.
https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2011/07/in-rush-for-land-is-it-all-about-water/https://www.truthdig.com/articles/china-is-buying-land-in-africa-and-south-america-to-ensure-its-food-supply/http://newafricanmagazine.com/sudan-land-grabbing-and-displacement/I am particularly impressed with S Korea's attempt to buy half of Madagascar's agricultural land.
So the new rich countries, and the local nation elites who get rich out of it, are reorganising agriculture in Africa and indeed South America to secure their own nations' future in an over populated world. A side effect is creating a large group of despossed, many of whom migrate to Europe and N America. In other words, the 'rich countries' Noam has in mind are being used as a dumping ground for people who would otherwise cause problems for the new rich countries investments.
We live at the end of the Vasco De Gama era. Some light reading:
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/end-vasco-da-gama-eraIncreasing it will be Asian countries who call the shots. Those with the money are the ones who get to have the say. Or in vulgar terms: "money talks and shit walks". Those countries won't accept displaced people. Rather it is Europe and N America who will be expected to soak up what could possibly be 100's of millions of uneducated and not particularly lawful people, with all the economic, social and political costs that involves. While Asia sits back and continues to grow powerful.
The sort of moralism Noam is advocating is principled but imprudent. The 21st century is going to be a very nasty century due largely to over population and environmental decline and the intense competition that will result. Westerners don't know what's about to hit them.
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