In this seven-minute video, Economist Jeffrey Sachs explains why economic development in Africa remains elusive. He summarizes the geographical, technological, social, and political conditions that held Africa back but propelled parts of Asia forward (he compares to India). Development, he notes, is not simply a matter of wishful thinking and hard work on the part of Africans (as many like to claim), nor is it a matter of just doing what worked elsewhere (as others like to say), but instead requires institutional commitments, economic resources, and global political will.
Comments 12
Anonymous — November 20, 2010
Wangari Maathai would kick his arse eight ways of Sunday.
Jeremiah — November 20, 2010
Obligatory: How to write about Africa.
azizi — November 20, 2010
For full disclosure, I was initially concerned about this video. My concern was rooted in my direct and indirect experiences as an African American with White folks who act like they are experts about Africa, generalizing their comments about that vast continent and its people. All too often, these wannabe experts show their ignorance by their treatment of Africa as a country and not a continent.
However, after watching this video, I would like to compliment to economist Jeffrey Sachs for a very informative and insightful interview, which I recognize is but a brief introduction to very complex subjects.
In 3:58 Sachs clearly mentions that Africa is a continent. His subsequent comments were general statements about Africa. Is it possible to make general statements about a continent without being negatively stereotypical? I believe so and, in my opinion, Jeffrey Sachs's general statements about Africa definitely weren't stereotypical.
While Jeffery Sachs and the interviewer Dalton Conley used the general term "Africa", I don't believe that comments treated Africa as a country. Sometimes general comments can be made about a continent. In my opinion, in no way were Jeffrey Sachs comments in the stereotypical mode that is rightfully lamblasted in the above linked "How To Write About Africa" article which is actually about "How People Should Not Write About Or Discuss Africa".
I agree with the second commenter that Wangari Maathai would probably applaud Jeffrey Sachs for what appears to be his proactive work on behalf of improving socio-economic conditions for Africans.
A White person working on behalf of Black Africans shouldn't be judged as guilty of nefarious intentions until he or she is proven innocent. Because of institutional and personal racism that was leveled against and continues to be leveled against Africans and people of the African Diaspora, I admit that I have to keep reminding myself not to judge people by their skin color but by their deeds, even more than by their words.
I'm glad I put aside my mistrust and watched & listened to this video.
rhea d — November 21, 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolution_in_India#Environmental_impact
Why free markets don’t develop countries « Eileen Divringi Blog — November 21, 2010
[...] From Sociological Images [...]
Calvin — November 26, 2010
I noticed he specifically honed down on India's Green Revolution. Did anything similar happen in China? I know very little about economic development, so I'm kind of curious about there too. To me, the story there seems more clearly cut in terms of free market philosophy. Very laissez-faire policies seems to be encouraging business to boom and develop, which is similar to the conditions that the Western World went through in the Industrial Revolution.
John — June 13, 2023
Best wishes for their economic growth.
- John