Monday, September 20, 2010
Developing Nations
There is so much to say about the development of nations. Careers are based on the idea that people from developed countries want to reach out to developing countries to offer the infrastructure, the education, the security and the health benefits of the First World. But the dynamics of really helping those countries are so diverse. A fellow thinker contemplated the possibilities of technology in developing the USA's bureaucratic democracy into a true democracy. This made me think about underdeveloped countries and their status. I found an interesting blog discussing Afghani development and the negative externalities that may arise from the recent Lithium find. We see similar examples in Africa, where corruption in bureaucracies limits the power of democracy. Would-be world powers flounder. I think we recognize that autocracy could work in a perfect society, but we don't live with perfect people. Open government is the ideal in a non-ideal world. My question: How do we develop nations to the point that they can function and contribute to the world?
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And I counter your question with another... Can we develop nations? Part of the argument is that the conceit of it all comes from believing that these countries want to be helped.
ReplyDeleteOf course, they do - they're largely oppressed and lacking in access to basic opportunities!
Yeah, but so were the spiteful people that Moses lead out of Egypt and out of bondage. People often want to bite the hand that feeds. I know that I don't want to start eating noodles, living smashed 20 stories high, working in rice fields, practicing Kung Fu daily, and speaking Chinese but it seems that soon China will literally buy ownership to my country (yes, that was intentionally ignorant - I'll call it sarcasm).
The point is that I like what I have despite the problems - but other people would disagree.
The idea that comes to my mind is "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a life." However, as Shaun commented, we can't force people to develop. In fact, all of us are so afraid of change in this world, that many people in developing countries may even reject the help we try to give. Not because they don't want a better life, but because they are afraid to change. The best we can do is provide teaching, tools, and opportunities for developing countries to develop, and allow them to choose for themselves whether or not to use them.
ReplyDeleteI like the comments. People have to want to change. My wife did an internship with the Ouelessebougou Alliance (http://www.ouelessebougou.org)in the winter. They focus on sustainable development in Mali. They only succeed when there's cooperation. She related the importance of feedback loops. These are good questions that we need to keep asking.
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