Facing up to reality? NEPAD and the challenge of globalisation

[摘要] English: The study deals with the role of the New Partnership for Africa's Development in launching Africa's political and economic revitalisation in the twenty-first century. The world entered the new millennium in the midst of a global economic revolution characterised by a wider acceptance of the liberal economic free-market system and a growing interdependence among states and markets. This redoubled the integration of national and regional systems of production and finance, causing growth in across-border flows of goods. Globalisation also intensified the trend of democratic governance and the need for regional co-operation and integration. However, the distribution ofbenefits and the contributions of the various states and regions show imbalances. On the one hand, economic globalisation has increased opportunities of especially the developed states and regions to expand access to goods and services, to broaden wealth, to acquire knowledge and skills, and improve the stsandard of living. On the other hand Africa has been dragging its feet as a result of bad governance and the failure of political and economic leadership, staggering debt and perennial underdevelopment. Consequently, the continent has been marginalised from the international political and economic mainstream.The study aims to describe the aspects of Africa's underdevelopment that threaten the political and economic stability of the international political economy and to analyse and evaluate the New Partnership for Africa's Development plan within the context of globalisation by highlighting the links between democracy and good governance, legitimacy and political stability on the one hand, and economic growth, development, foreign direct investment and partnerships on the other hand. The so-called NEPAD document or strategic plan is used as the framework for an explanation of concepts and theoretical contexts against which the problems of underdevelopment, legitimacy, equal partners in international relations and the revitalisation of the African continent in a rapidly changing global environment should be viewed. In order to reach this stage, however, African states need to accept and implement the principles endorsed by the NEPAD plan. This implies that Africa must firstly; comprehend the nature of the continents' marginalisationin international political economy and constant underdevelopment stemming partly from the European colonial era and partly from the post-independence era. Secondly, revitalise political governance in Africa by institutionalising democracy and good governance from grass root level and collectively and individually improve political regional integration mainly through the Africa Union. Thirdly, strengthen regional economic integration by means of intra-trade, investments,, and united bargaining at international level such as the World Trade Organisation to promote economic development and the eradication of poverty mainly through the implementation of common economic liberalisation policies especially privatisation of state entities. Finally, African state should have their government's performance scrutinised by the African Peer Review Mechanism in order to strengthen their democracies and good governance, thereby attracting foreign direct investments. The study emphasises that the New Partnership for Africa's Development, is a unique and novel long-term strategic plan devised and endorsed by the African heads of state to squarely and proactively face up to the challenges of African development. In conclusion, it affirms the strategic role that the New Partnership for Africa's Development has to play in reintegrating Africa into the global political economy of the twenty-first century.

[发布机构] University of the Free State