AAA - America, Africa and Aid

The future of international development and poverty reduction lies embedded in the dynamic of this Triple Entente. Only positive, constructive and progressive relations between all vertices of this not-really-love triangle can assure that any of the international community's aid objectives will be met for the near future.

America has the money. This economic behemoth remains the irrefutable Gargantua of wealth and economic success in the post-modern world. The runner-up industrialized economy (Japan) is only a quarter of the size, and is only there because of American help in the first place. Despite some moderately developed economies taking impressive steps forward, they are not making the leaps that would be required for them to play in the same league as America within the next decade. If developing nations want to be the recipients of significant amounts of aid, they are going to have to dip their hands into America's coffers, with America's permission, of course.

Africa doesn't have the money. While most of Asia (most notably for China and India) hardly resembles the impoverished and hopeless continent of post WWII colonialism, and the Middle East and much of South America continue to joyfully surf the black waves of surging petroleum prices, Africa holds tenaciously onto its "Dark Continent" identity. It truthfully deserves the name: Sub-Saharan Africa is the only part of the world in which the proportion of the population living in absolute poverty is on the rise, and Africans also enjoy the aftermath of guerilla wars, genocides, and systematic oppression. This is obviously where America's money needs to be going if it is going to make a difference.

However, as with all triangular relationships, a 'give-and-take' solution is not going to work in this case. Firstly, despite African enthusiasm for having ever larger amounts of money funneled into the dark continent, the black hole is a strikingly effective analogy for the effectiveness of this tactic. Corruption, misplacement of funds and inbred conflict usually mean that any aid awarded Africa usually only accomplishes a fraction of its potential contribution, or disappears altogether. Moreover, America is not biting - it has, at least until the end of Mr. Bush's term, an unshakeable policy of promoting democracy everywhere, but particularly in the Middle East. If Africa is hurt by the attention that the Giant is paying to Iraq, their relationship suffers even more when America explores the possibility of democracy in Africa and realizes that it is probably impossible (at least on American terms.) America's approach in this regard is unlikely to change - Mr. Wolfowtiz's assurances that he really is going to focus on Africa and that he is not another pawn in hawkish Bush foreign policy are convincing few, World Bank stakeholders themselves included.

Can this Triple Entente be resurrected to help defeat the Evil Axis of poverty, disease and death? Not, at least, in the immediate future. The war will not be over by Christmas.