The Pirates of Africa
Understanding Africa is not only challenging because it is so large and diverse (culturally, geographically, and economically), but also because many of the problems, even viewed in an isolated context, are incredibly daunting. The fact that a large portion of Africa suffers from terrible diseases such as AIDs and Malaria is reason for concern and panic by itself, but when also coupled with governmental corruption, lack of economic industries, a monocrop culture, and ethnic tension, a perfect storm is created. A sound uncorrupt government and economy is essential for creating a viable healthcare system. However, a healthy population that is able to work and go to school is essential for creating a sound and uncorrupt economy. The healthier a population is, the more people can work, the more parents can afford to send their children to school, the greater chance those children become civically engaged as they grow older, the less corruption there is in the public sector. However, since health, education, and the economy are all dependent on one another, the problem of development in Africa is complex.
Therefore, the strategy needs to be holistic. Economic policy and quality of life issues need to overlap one another in order to create a system that goes beyond the Harrod-Domar model (the idea that purely industrialization leads to development). The World Bank, IMF, and even nation-states are moving in this direction by incorporating and utilizing quality of life indexes in their assessment of their policies and aid packages.
Even with an improvement on how aid is distributed and money is loaned to African nations, the oddities that have defined Africa exist nonetheless. As reported, the UN World Food Program, which provides aid to many African nations has had recent problems with pirates off the coast of Somalia. The UN helpless to the attacks, urges restraint and action on the part of the world community and specifically Africa: “"We urge key nations to do their utmost to address this plague of piracy, which is now threatening our ability to feed 1 million Somalis.” So while the developed world can have the best intentions in its attempt in creating a socially and economically viable environment, in the end Africa needs to take ownership of its problems.
However, because of the horrendous conditions that were created as a result of the slave trade and colonialism, Western nations owe it to Africa to forgive its debt and help in every way possible in this effort. Western nations must remain persistent in its commitment to Africa. Developed nations must work with Africa to help destroy the "pirates of the continent"- disease, sickness, corruption, governmental incompetency. So while the struggles in Africa may seem too daunting or hopeless, it is the Western world’s moral and ethical duty to assist by working with them to help end the social, economic, and health related troubles in the region.
