African Studies Practicum

Campus Report ^ | September 19, 2007 | Emmanuel Opati

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African Studies Practicum

by: Emmanuel Opati, September 19, 2007

For decades, African diplomats to the western countries, especially to the United States, focused inter-alia on increasing the aid flow to the continent.

However, current dynamics of global war on terror have changed foreign policy objectives and consequently changed the wave of international development and humanitarian aid.

In 2006, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported that the contribution from the 22 member countries of the Development Assistance Committee (who are the World’s major donors) dropped by 5.1 per cent compared to 2005 contributions.

The United States has been criticized for cutting back on its promised obligations and responsibilities to the United Nations, despite affirmations by President Bush who has tripled humanitarian and development aid to Africa (and has promised to increase it to $ 9 billion by 2010), to build and strengthen the relationship between the United States and Africa.

With the increasing ties of international development and humanitarian aid to strategic interests of donor countries, the bitter reality is that Africa is becoming less strategically important as reflected in amount of dollars it attracts.

[RC2]

If the money goes to the UN, it will disappear. If the money goes to Africa, it will disappear. It’s a loosing battle. Both of them are as crooked as they come. It’s our tax money, keep it here. Where in the Constitution does it allow our government to give $9 billion dollars to a foriegn country?

[Ace's Dad]

OK. First, the title: “Practicum” is not a well chosen word, indicating a writer that has learned an academic “word,” and just throws it in anywhere to sound “intelligent.” Practicum applies to the Fine Arts, especially instrumental music, and refers to the class of instrument, i.e., woodwinds, brass, or percussion, etc., that is studied. On to the question of Africa. Africa is a mess. Ask my own “Ace,” who flies over there. If it weren’t for oil, Africa would be totally lost, as it is, the oil money is so misspent that the average native sees no benefit. “Practicum in Abject Poverty”?

[Bob]

The United States has been criticized for cutting back on its promised obligations and responsibilities to the United Nations, despite affirmations by President Bush who has tripled humanitarian and development aid to Africa...

ESAD, you stinkin' ingrates!