scholarly journals Meaning and contents of the programme for a revitalization of Africa

2004 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-92
Author(s):  
Jordan Dinic
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
African Continent ◽  
African Countries ◽  
United Nations Economic Commission ◽  
Electric Power Supply ◽  
The World

The programme for a revitalization of Africa through the New Partnership for Africa?s Development (NEPAD) project is determined by the need of the African continent to overcome its historic heritage and a rather unfavourable current situation, and to become part of the globalisation processes that had spread throughout the world in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. After a brief clarification of the terminology included in the very title of the above project, the author identifies and analyses the important characteristics of the current situation in the continent, which has been and still is conditioned by the marginalisation and isolation of the continent from the main streams and processes that had been expanding throughout the world over the past decades. Assessing that the underdevelopment and poverty are the essence of the problem, the subliming factor of all other negative trends and the main cause of the continent?s marginalisation in the world?s economic, political and civilizational developments, the main point of the analysis is actually focused on finding the causes of this situation. In that context, the legitimacy of colonialism, the consequences of the globalisation process in the African continent, the link between domestic and external factors in the cause-and-effect connection with the negative development of the continent are being analysed. The analysis of the important factors of the present and the future of the continent includes and identifies the historic and current advantages of the continent, which are also the realistic foundation on which the revitalization project rests on, such as natural and human resources and the richness of Africa?s culture, which has largely contributed to the diversity of the global cultures. In the section on the contents and objectives of the programme for a revitalization of Africa, the author points out several essential characteristics, underlining that the programme is a part of the African leaders themselves, that it is the authentic product of their awareness that without their own responsibility for the fate of Africa?s peoples the problems that those countries are faced with will not be overcome. Since the purpose of the programme for a revitalization is to include the continent in the globalisation processes its implementation depends directly on the support and assistance of the international community and the international agencies and organizations particularly of the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Namely, the global partnership for Africa?s development is directly correlated with the preservation of the global stability. A continuation of Africa?s marginalisation in the globalisation process would be a serious threat to both the world stability and the globalisation process itself, which would be incomplete without the inclusion of all of the world countries. With an identification and analysis of the main priorities of the Programme and of the mechanisms and responsibilities for its implementation, the author concludes that NEPAD?s implementation will be successful only if it becomes the property and a true concern not only of the leaders but also of all African peoples united in their diversity. The author analyses the historic and current external and internal factors that had caused the present situation in the continent, and identifies the potential natural, human and other resources. The programme for a revitalization also encourages the raising of self-consciousness of the segments of society at large about the realistic potentials of the African peoples, thus gaining also a mobilizing character. The author believes that the drawing up of the Plan of Action and its inclusion in the Programme is a rather positive side of the programme for a revitalization assessing it as a strategic mechanism for obtaining sustainable development in the 21st century. The Plan of Action identifies establishment of peace and stability, democratisation of the systems in African countries and formation of uncorrupted and competent governments, that would work in the interest of the people and not in the interest of certain groupings or individuals, as important conditions for the implementation of the strategy. The author also points out the basic sector priorities that the Plan of Action stipulates: overcoming infrastructural differences between certain sectors, investing in information and communication technologies development of electric power supply industries, transport and water supply. The development of human resources implies a poverty reduction, advancement of education system, upgrading of intellectual elite, development of health systems, agriculture, culture, science and technology. In the section on "Controversies, challenges and problems in the process of programme realization," the author tries to consider the Programme? vision, contents and objectives within the milieu of Africa?s present reality and the main development tendencies in the international scene, which would to a large degree determine the frameworks, scope and results of the Programme?s attainment in practice. In view of the diversity of cultures and traditions beliefs and religions, different historic heritage, and with this different external influences, disproportionate degree of economic and overall social development, conflicts within and among certain states, the tradition of unconstitutional rulers and rules, corruption and a series of other factor the author concludes that the project, basically substantial and progressive, will be faced with a number of challenges, dilemmas and difficulties, which would make its implementation uncertain, inconsistent and time-consuming.

The Russian Empire and the Countries of the African Continent: From the First Contacts to Regular Economic Interaction

2021 ◽  
pp. 216-224
Author(s):  
Aigul R. Nurieva ◽  
◽  
Marat Z. Gibadullin ◽  
Diana I. Zainutdinova ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Economic ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Russian Empire ◽  
African Continent ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
International Economic Relations ◽  
The World ◽  
The Russian Empire

The current state of the world economy is characterized by instability and mobility. In the context of a protracted crisis, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, competitive contradictions between the leading actors in international economic relations and world politics are exacerbating. Each of them is trying to fix the positions they have won in the world arena, resorting to the tools of economic and military diplomacy to achieve their strategic goals. The confrontation between old and new world leaders of the world economy is being transferred not only to traditional markets, but also to new ones, which were previously on the periphery of their economic interests. The African continent today, like in the nineteenth century, attracts more and more close attention of the leading states of the world. Rich in natural resources, it becomes an arena for the struggle for control over it from the United States, China, and European countries. Taking into account the fact that for Russia the field of foreign economic activity has significantly narrowed in recent years, its return to Africa should become one of the priorities of the national foreign economic strategy. In the above context, it seems relevant to comprehensively study the stages of development of economic relations between Russia and African countries and, based on historical experience, to identify the shortcomings and failures of economic policy in relations with African partners. When writing the article, the authors used general scientific research methods, primarily the dialectical method of cognition, the logical and historical method, deduction and induction, and mathematical methods. In the course of the study, the following results were achieved. (1) Based on the analysis of historical documents, the nature of the economic relations of the Russian Empire with African countries at various stages of their evolution has been determined. It has been established that, at the initial stage of interaction, Russia, in its desire to establish economic contacts with the states in the region, relied on the principle of respect for their sovereignty as independent states, independent subjects of international economic relations; however, at the following stage, associated with the beginning of the colonial division of Africa by the European powers, Russia was forced to passively participate in the colonial aggression against the countries of the region, entering into international agreements with the colonialists on the status of African countries. (2) Based on the processing of statistical data on the foreign trade of the Russian Empire with African countries and territories, a tendency has been revealed that characterizes the gradual curtailment of Russia’s economic activity in this region.

Telecommunications Sector and Internet Access in Africa

2008 ◽  
pp. 144-150
Author(s):  
Vanessa Phala
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The World ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Future Potential

The “information revolution” has not only transformed the world as we know it, but also its future potential. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), with their major technological advances, have affected the lives and lifestyles of people across the globe, as well as the way institutions and organizations do business. However, not all outcomes of the spread of information technologies have been positive. A majority of the world’s population, especially those who live in poverty, have been largely bypassed by this revolution. The gap between them and the rest of the world has expanded precisely as a result of the facilitation capacity of these technologies for those who have access to them (Figueres, 2003). The majority of these people are situated in the African continent and other developing countries.

Telecommunications Sector and Internet Access in Africa

2005 ◽  
pp. 687-691
Author(s):  
Vanessa Phala
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The World ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Future Potential

The “information revolution” has not only transformed the world as we know it, but also its future potential. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), with their major technological advances, have affected the lives and lifestyles of people across the globe, as well as the way institutions and organizations do business. However, not all outcomes of the spread of information technologies have been positive. A majority of the world’s population, especially those who live in poverty, have been largely bypassed by this revolution. The gap between them and the rest of the world has expanded precisely as a result of the facilitation capacity of these technologies for those who have access to them (Figueres, 2003). The majority of these people are situated in the African continent and other developing countries.

The Web as a Learning Environment for Kids

2000 ◽  
pp. 166-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherif Kamel
Keyword(s):  
World Wide Web ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Information And Communication

The Internet and the World Wide Web are demonstrating the growing influence of information and communication technologies in various aspects of the economy. Regardless of the barriers of time and distance, newly introduced information highways are linking the world countries together, their societies and cultures contributing effectively to globalization. One of the growing trends in societal development and growth is investment in people. Therefore, the learning process is a priority issue that information and communication technologies are serving trying to upgrade and leverage human resources to become more competitive as we approach the 21st century with all its challenges and opportunities. This chapter covers an initiative that was launched in Egypt in 1997 that targets the investment of Egypt’s young generation, the kids of the present and the leaders of the future. This initiative is part of a national plan that aims at leveraging the capacities of Egypt’s human resources. The focus of the chapter will be the learning process, the Internet and the presence of the first Egyptian Web site for children on the Internet “Little Horus.” With the introduction of the Internet since 1993 in Egypt, today there are around 250,000 Internet subscribers, among which are a growing community of schools, teachers and children. As the Internet grows in magnitude and capacity, perceived to reach over one million subscribers in the coming five years with an estimated 20 percent under the age of 16, the Internet and the World Wide Web could play an active role in the education process in Egypt. The chapter, therefore, will demonstrate the “Little Horus” initiative, the steps that were achieved so far, the plan for the future and the building blocks that represented the critical success factors for the realization of this initiative with relatively modest resources.

African Politics: A Very Short Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Political Violence ◽  
African State ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Politics ◽  
African Continent ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Short Introduction ◽  
State And Society ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan

African Politics: A Very Short Introduction explores how politics is practised on the African continent, providing an overview of the different states and their systems. It considers the nature of the state in sub-Saharan Africa and why its state structures are generally weaker than elsewhere in the world. Exploring the historical and contemporary factors that account for Africa’s underdevelopment, it also analyses why some African countries suffer from high levels of political violence while others are spared. Unveiling the ways in which African state and society actually function beyond the formal institutional façade, this VSI discusses how external factors—both inherited and contemporary—act upon the continent.

Telecommunications Sector and Internet Access in Africa

2008 ◽  
pp. 867-873
Author(s):  
Vanessa Phala
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The World ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Future Potential

The “information revolution” has not only transformed the world as we know it, but also its future potential. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), with their major technological advances, have affected the lives and lifestyles of people across the globe, as well as the way institutions and organizations do business. However, not all outcomes of the spread of information technologies have been positive. A majority of the world’s population, especially those who live in poverty, have been largely bypassed by this revolution. The gap between them and the rest of the world has expanded precisely as a result of the facilitation capacity of these technologies for those who have access to them (Figueres, 2003). The majority of these people are situated in the African continent and other developing countries.

The AU’s Progress and Achievements in the Realm of Peace and Security

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 454-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Segun Joshua ◽  
Faith Olanrewaju
Keyword(s):  
Data Gathering ◽  
Institutional Capacity ◽  
Peace Operations ◽  
African Continent ◽  
African Unity ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
The World ◽  
Peace And Security ◽  
Domestic Affairs

When Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was formed, the problem confronting Africa continent then was colonialism. It is therefore not a surprise that its major preoccupation was how to liberate countries within the continent that were still under the grip of colonialism. However, the surge of conflicts in various African countries shortly after independence, manifesting in form of ethnicity, religious, struggle for political power among others, coupled with OAU policy of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of member states, combined to turn African continent to the bedlam of the world. The failure of OAU led to the formation of the African Unity (AU) to correct some of these ills. This article examines AU’s achievements in the realm of peace and security using secondary sources of data gathering. Since AU came on board, how far has it fared in promoting peace and security in the continent? Findings reveal that although AU has achieved much in the realm of peace and security in Africa, yet it lacks the needed human resources and institutional capacity to conduct effective peace operations and peace-making initiatives. The study therefore suggested among others the need to strengthen AU’s institutional capacity and more personnel should be donated by members countries

scholarly journals A DISSYMMETRY IN THE FIGURES RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE WORLD: WHAT FACTORS EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFRICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheikh Faye ◽  
CheikhTidiane Wade ◽  
Ibrahima Demba Dione
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Modern World ◽  
African Continent ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Average Annual Temperature ◽  
The World ◽  
The Difference

Humanity has experienced outbreaks for millennia, from epidemics limited to pandemics that have claimed many victims and changed the course of civilizations. The advent of vaccines has eradicated some of the serious pathogens and reduced many others. However, pandemics are still part of our modern world, as we continue to have pandemics as devastating as HIV and as alarming as severe acute respiratory syndrome, Ebola and the Middle East respiratory syndrome. The Covid-19 epidemic with 0-exponential contamination curves reaching 3 million confirmed cases should not have come as a surprise, nor should it have been the last pandemic in the world. In this article, we try to summarize the lost opportunities as well as the lessons learned, hoping that we can do better in the future. The objective of this study is to relate the situation of Covid-19 in African countries with those of the countries most affected by the pandemic. It also allows us to verify how, according to the observed situation, the African ecosystem seems to be much more resilient compared to that of other continents where the number of deaths is in the thousands. To verify this, the diagnosed morbidity and mortality reported for different states of the world are compared to the ages of life and the average annual temperature of these states. The results show that the less dramatic balance of the African continent compared to other continents is partly linked to the relatively high temperatures on the continent but also to the relatively young character of its population.

Africa and the Challenges of Bridging the Digital Divide

2008 ◽  
pp. 303-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esharenana E. Adomi
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
African Countries ◽  
United Nations Economic Commission ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
The Status ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The United Nations

Much of the developed world has, over the past two decades, been transformed by what are now termed information and communication technologies (ICTs). These technologies exert great impact on most aspects of our lives—in economic activities, education, entertainment, communication, travel, and so on. Also they have inextricably linked with economic prosperity and power (Davison, Vogel, Harris, et al., 2000). At present, Africa is at the bottom of the ICT ladder. This has serious implications both for the continent and the entire world. This is because ICTs are enhancing the economies of those countries that are ICT-rich faster then those that are ICT-poor, thus further widening the development gap between Africa and the industrialized world (Ya’u, n.d.) The realization of the importance of ICTs in economic advancement led the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD) to devote the 1995 through 1997 to the study of the linkages between ICTs and development. One of the important results of that effort was the placing of the digital divide on global development agenda. Since then, there has been an internal consensus that there is the need to bridge the digital divide. As a result of this consensus, there has evolved various bridging strategies, actions and initiatives at international, regional, continental and local country levels. Learning from these efforts, African countries have, under the leadership of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), been developing national, sub-regional, and continental initiatives to overcome the digital divide and to promote the greater inclusion of Africa communities into the cyberspace (Ya’u, n.d.) In this chapter, efforts are made to define digital divide, unravel the status of Africa in the global digital map, enumerate the causes of low level of ICT diffusion in Africa, efforts at bridging the divide, discusses future trends, and concludes with steps that can address the divide.

The African Information Society Initiative: A Seven-year Assessment (1996-2002)

2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Hafkin
Keyword(s):  
Information Society ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Information Age ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Personal Knowledge ◽  
African Countries ◽  
United Nations Economic Commission ◽  
Economic Commission ◽  
The World

AbstractThis paper provides a contemporary historical analysis of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI), the first systematic and comprehensive effort by African governments to bring their countries into the information age. Covering the period 1996- 2002, it is based on interviews, documentary and statistical sources, press reports, parliamentary records, and participant observation. For the first five years of the time-span of the study, the author was a senior official of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in charge of coordinating the AISI. While this may put the objectivity of the author in question, it also brings the advantages of direct personal knowledge of the events and processes described. The paper examines the origins of the Initiative, its content, the process of its implementation, its achievements, and its constraints. The paper's narrative looks at how and why the Initiative developed as it did, in particular with relation to policy decisions. Additionally, the paper presents an AISI progress index, which represents an attempt to measure the relative positions of African countries on each of the major dimensions of the Initiative. It concludes with a brief analysis of how Africa stands in relation to the rest of the world in the utilization of information technology for development and what it needs to do to accelerate its progress.

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