The Politics of Development

Lesson Starter

Outline how trade and debt can hinder development

Political factors affecting development in African Countries

Lesson Aims

I will learn

1. The effects of War on developing countries2. The effects of Bad governance to developing

countries

Political Factors affecting development

Conflict/Wars

Armed conflict leads to food shortages on a large scale and destroys economic and social development.Workers are killed

Infrastructure destroyed eg roads/bridges

Crops destroyed

Farms/livestock destroyed

People displaced

Businesses destroyed

unemployment

Money spent on arms – not on health and education

War

Africa is a continent more affected by armed conflict than any other continent.•Wars between countries•Civil Wars – Political/tribal/religious reasons•Unresolved disputes following independence.

Recent examples of Wars

•Sudan•Rwanda •Somalia•Mozambique•Congo

• 2003 – War broke out in Darfur – region in Sudan (roughly the size of France)

Groups fighting in Sudan• Sudanese government• Janjaweed (supported by the government)• Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM)• Justice for Equality Movement (JEM)

Sudan

Armed conflict – Sudan – Darfur

2003 – Rebels (Sudanese Liberation Movement) began attacking the government

Disputes over equality – Arabs treated better than Black Africans.

For many years there has been tension over land and grazing rights.

The Sudanese government began fighting back and are thought to have organised an Arab emergency army called – Janjaweed.

Janjaweed has been accused various offences against non Arab Sudanese people.

Stealing property/landMurderTortureRape

4th March 2009 – The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Al Bashir

Justice and Equality Movement - the most heavily armed and active of the rebel groups in Darfur - has welcomed the warrant as a victory for the refugees and the displaced, and a victory for humanity.

But as a direct result of the indictment, Khartoum expelled 10 foreign aid agencies, including Oxfam, Care, Save the Children UK and Medecins Sans Frontieres from Darfur, who between them supply food and water to some 1.5 million people.

Aid has been disrupted because it is too dangerous for aid workers to come into the country.

Government blocked food supplies in areas where rebels were living.

At present aid of NGOs has been blocked in Darfur as a result of the indictment against the president

Millions of dollars was spent on the military which meant that public services were neglected.

Children are forced to become soldiers.

Infrastructure destroyed.

Bad governance/Kleptocracy

• Kleptocracy/Corrupt Government – When a dictator or a group use their power to benefit themselves.

• Those who support the dictator or the regime are rewarded while those who do not are punished.

• The Commission for Africa identified bad governance as a key issue explaining the lack of development in Many African countries.

• The government and the police cannot be trusted• Taxes are not collected efficiently• Widespread corruption – Government officials have lavish

standards of living while ordinary people are living in absolute poverty.

• Human rights are abused.• Legal system is not independent.

Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe is known throughout the world for his authoritarian and corrupt regime.

Vote riggingRacismViolation of human rightsBeatings/torture and murder are commonRestricted pressFreud – using government and aid money wronglyDeceptionForeign journalists are banned

ZIMBABWE

Economic problems – Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe was once the economic leader in Africa but as a consequence of mismanagement the country has experienced economic disasters.

Exchange rate has fallen

Inflation has risen – 2005 it was 80%

2004 unemployment rate was 80%

Income per head is lower now than it was in 1980

Land distribution policies – White farmers evicted – crippling the agricultural industry.

Tourism has collapsed

Social problems – Zimbabwe

200 00 homes destroyed – people homeless

Since 2000 Zimbabwe unable to feed itself – 50% of population need emergency food aid.

However in May 2004 Mugabe refused food aid stating that Zimbabwe had enough food.

Life expectancy in low

70% of people live in poverty.Rate of HIV infection – 25% of the population

Primary school completion rates are down

Poor sanitation and water supplies – 2008 Cholera outbreak

To what extent is conflict a factor in preventing development. (15 marks)

•Effects of war and conflict – how it hinders development•Examples of recent conflict•However, conflict is not the only factor•Health, education, economic factors, corrupt government.