The Millennium Development goals (MDGs) were set in 2000 as an ambitious goal to improve the situation in developing countries in fields such as education, reducing poverty or improving the health situation for the poor. Those goals shall be achieved until the year 2015, which means that halve of the time between the settings of the goals and the supposed reaching of those has passed. Thus it is time to ask how successful the tries have been until now, and if it is still realistic to achieve those goals. This paper will place special emphasis on Africa and especially Sub-Sahara Africa. In this region the smallest progress can be seen, and in certain areas no success as all can be witnessed. The main question, which will be answered in this paper, is therefore: “What are the problems that prevent the countries in Sub-Sahara Africa to achieve the Millennium Development goals?”
In the first section of the paper the Millennium Declaration, which was signed in September 2000, will be introduced, and the growing international acceptation of those goals will be mentioned. (Qureshi, 2004)
After that the present situation will be described. When all developing countries are seen together, the data suggest that improvement has taken place and that the implemented strategies have been at least partly successful. But this is a very limited view, as there are different categories of developing countries. The situation in the two biggest countries of the world China and India has improved significantly, and Asia in general has made some progress, especially the regions East and South-East Asia show significant improvement during the last years.
The next section will analyse the poor performance of African countries and why this is the case. Two major possible explanations will be given. On the one hand it could be the fault of the giving countries, since they are not investing enough money in Africa.
On the other hand not only the giving countries have to be analysed when looking at the failures of the last decade, also the situation in the African countries themselves has to be monitored.
The last part of the main paper will look at possible new strategies, which could be used in order to improve the situation in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Declaration of the MDGs
2.1 International acceptation of the MDGs
2.2 The content of the MDGs
3. The success of the MDGs
3.1 The achieved results
3.2 Conclusion of the achieved results
4. Africa and the failures in development politics
4.1 Problems for Africa created by industrialised countries
4.2 Internal Problems of Africa
4.2.1 Corruption in Africa
4.2.2 Conflicts in Africa
4.2.3 Missing HIV/Aids awareness in Africa
5. New Strategies for Africa?
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines the reasons why sub-Saharan Africa has failed to achieve significant progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) since their inception in 2000, contrasting this with the relative successes observed in other developing regions. The primary research question addresses the specific structural, political, and international factors that hinder development in this region.
- The effectiveness of current development aid and the role of industrialized nations.
- Internal African obstacles, including corruption and mismanagement of funds.
- The critical impact of HIV/AIDS and poor healthcare infrastructure.
- The role of tribal conflicts and political instability on economic growth.
- The necessity of trade reform and improved "good governance" strategies.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2.1 Corruption in Africa
The problem of corruption can not be generalized, as this problem depends on the circumstances and on other influences such as the strength of civil society, the political culture of the country, the role of the media or the personal habits of the politicians (Coolidge and Rose-Ackerman, 1997 ). The reasons are thus manifold, but at least it can be stated that corruption has been historically a major threat to the economical development of the African countries.
Some economists argue that especially the weak political institutions are responsible for this problem, as it often leads to irresponsible politicians on the top of the state. Since most countries do not fulfil all or even most aspects of a democracy, alternative ways of gaining power are frequent. This often let to cruel dictators, who than dominated their countries and did not to anything to fight for poverty reduction. Examples of this are still existent today, as Robert Mugabe shows in Zimbabwe. But maybe even worse are the countries who are called “failing states” in recent debates. Those are countries who just exist on the paper, but in which warlords or criminal gangs have taken control over the life of the citizens. Those types of state are occurring more often today than ever before in history and the major part of those states is situated in Africa (Birdsall, 2007). In those states it is almost impossible to help the poor part of the population to improve their situation sustainable, as the structure prohibits success stories.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the MDGs, the stagnating progress in sub-Saharan Africa, and the paper's core research question regarding the barriers to these developmental goals.
2. Declaration of the MDGs: Provides historical context on the evolution of development strategies from the 1970s to the adoption of the MDGs at the 2000 UN General Assembly.
3. The success of the MDGs: Analyzes global progress data, highlighting that while some regions have seen improvements, many goals remain unmet, particularly in Africa.
4. Africa and the failures in development politics: Investigates the dual causes of failure, focusing on insufficient aid from industrialized countries and internal African issues like corruption and conflict.
5. New Strategies for Africa?: Discusses potential policy shifts, emphasizing the need for trade fairness and improved governance to foster sustainable development.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes findings, asserting that a collaborative, more effective approach between African leaders and international donors is mandatory for future success.
Keywords
Millennium Development Goals, Sub-Sahara Africa, Poverty Reduction, Development Aid, Corruption, HIV/AIDS, Good Governance, Economic Development, Failing States, Tribal Conflicts, Sustainable Development, Trade Conditions, Infrastructure, Foreign Investment, Political Instability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the specific reasons why sub-Saharan African nations are failing to meet the Millennium Development Goals compared to other developing regions.
What are the central themes discussed?
The study covers the shortcomings of international development aid, systemic corruption, the impact of HIV/AIDS, regional tribal conflicts, and unfair global trade practices.
What is the primary research question?
The paper seeks to identify the specific problems that prevent countries in sub-Saharan Africa from achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author employs a comparative policy analysis, examining development reports and economic studies to weigh external aid impacts against internal political and social variables.
What is the main subject matter of the book's core chapters?
The core chapters evaluate the success of MDGs, analyze the failures of development politics in Africa, and propose new strategic approaches for effective future intervention.
Which keywords best characterize this analysis?
Key terms include Millennium Development Goals, Corruption, Sub-Saharan Africa, Development Aid, and Good Governance.
How does the author characterize the role of the World Bank in Africa?
The author views the World Bank's past strategies, such as market liberalization requirements, as having often weakened state capacity in Africa rather than fostering sustainable growth.
Why does the author cite the "Asian Miracle" in this context?
The author uses the rapid growth of countries like China and India to demonstrate that despite similar starting points, different internal policies and developmental strategies can lead to vastly different outcomes.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Daniel Schmidt (Autor:in), 2008, Why Africa is unlikely to achieve the Millennium Development Goals?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/92145
