Developing World 2007-2008

UNIT 1. Understanding the Developing World <new>1. <comment>42940How to Help Poor Countries, Nancy Birdsall, Dani Rodrik, and Arvind Subramanian, Foreign Affairs, July/August 2005 Efforts to help poor countries often ignore the reality that development is largely determined by poor countries themselves and wealthy countries can have only a limited impact. That impact can be enhanced by not only increasing aid and removing trade barriers but also giving poor countries more control over economic policy, helping to finance technology to promote development, and opening labor markets. <new>2. <comment>41983Can Extreme Poverty Be Eliminated?, Jeffery D. Sachs, Scientific American, September 2005 The world's poorest 1.5 billion people continue to struggle to gain access to adequate nutrition, housing, health care, and sanitation. Economist Jeffrey Sachs argues that extreme poverty can be eliminated if the international community adheres to the Millennium Development Goals. Better insight into the causes of poverty--along with increased aid geared to specific targets and monitored for success--can alleviate poverty. 3. <comment>42941Today's Golden Age of Poverty Reduction, Surjit S. Bhalla, The International Economy, Spring 2006 Contrary to prevailing views, Surjit Bhalla argues that an emphasis on economic growth has resulted not in growing inequality but rather in unprecedented poverty reduction. Market emphases have been behind this success but Bhalla claims that political correctness coupled with efforts to protect the interests of international financial institutions prevent the recognition of this trend. <new>4. <comment>42942The Utopian Nightmare, William Easterly, Foreign Policy, September/October 2005 Utopian dreams of eradicating poverty must recognize the importance of determining the best approach to the problems of the global poor and improving the effectiveness of aid. The establishment of the Millennium Development Goals does not necessarily translate into providing needed medicines or mosquito nets to the world's poor. Such top-down development strategies do not insure progress at the bottom. 5. <comment>36086Development as Poison: Rethinking the Western Model of Modernity, Stephen A. Marglin, Harvard International Review, Spring 2003 The West's conception of development emphasizes markets and assumes that following its lead will result in development. In reality, Western culture undermines indigenous culture, especially that of community. The West should realize that the values underlying its culture are not necessarily universal. UNIT 2. Political Economy and the Developing World <new>6. <comment>42943Climbing Back, The Economist, January 21, 2006 Developing countries substantially increased their share of the global economy as measured by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) . Measured this way, developing countries now account for just over half of the global output. In addition, their share of exports has increased to 42 percent, they have half of the world's foreign exchange, and they consume 47 percent of the world's oil. At the same time, their stock markets account for only 14 percent of global capitalization. <new>7. <comment>42944Social Justice and Global Trade, Joseph Stiglitz, Far Eastern Economic Review, March 2006 Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz argues that there is something wrong with the global trading system. The industrialized world's tariffs on developing countries' products are four times that of the developing world's levies on rich countries' products. Poor countries are pressured to open their markets and eliminate subsidies while barriers to rich countries' markets remain and they continue to subsidize agriculture. <new>8. <comment>42945Hard Truths, The Economist, December 24, 2005 The December 2005 ministerial meeting of the WTO ended with little progress toward lowering trade barriers. The major achievements were a target date of 2013 for the elimination of agricultural subsides along with promises by rich countries to open their markets to poor countries' exports. The conclusion of a comprehensive trade agreement remains elusive and will require concessions from both industrialized and developing countries. <new>9. <comment>42946The Protection Racket, Arvind Panagariya, Foreign Policy, September/October 2005 The controversy over agricultural subsidies in the Doha Round of world trade talks focuses on the need for industrialized countries to remove barriers to poor countries' exports. Poor countries should pursue trade liberalization regardless of what rich countries do. High trade barriers in developing countries hinder exports, reduce the influx of technology, and stifle entrepreneurship. <new>10. <comment>42947Cotton: The Huge Moral Issue, Kate Eshelby, New African, January 2006 Cotton production in poor countries is threatened by subsidies paid to farmers in industrialized countries. Cotton subsidies in the United States exceed the GDP of Burkina Faso, a poor cotton producer. Because of these subsidies, overproduction results in lower prices for poor farmers. Although WTO rules prohibit subsidies that distort trade, rich countries have yet to eliminate them. <new>11. <comment>42949The $25 Billion Question, The Economist, July 2, 2005 After a decline in the 1990s, aid is making a comeback. Aid to Africa is set to increase, prompting questions about how to make this aid more effective. There are also concerns that large infusions of aid will adversely affect recipient countries. With innovative thinking, however, the obstacles to effective use of aid can be overcome. <new>12. <comment>42950Making Aid Work, Peter S. Heller, Finance & Development, September 2005 Recent efforts to deal with persistent poverty and increase aid flows to poor countries require that both donors and recipients cooperate to achieve this goal. Donors must increase the predictability and duration of aid while recipients must strengthen their macroeconomic policies, capacity to absorb aid, and budgetary management. <new>13. <comment>42951Aiding Development: Tracking the Flows, Finance & Development, September 2005 Increases in aid, which countries receive the most aid, who provides the most, the sectors of the economy that receive the most aid and the relationship between aid and growth are depicted in this examination of official development assistance. <new>14. <comment>42952Aid and Growth, Steven Radelet, Michael Clemens, and Rikhil Bhavnani, Finance & Development, September 2005 There has been considerable debate regarding whether aid contributes to economic growth. This study concludes that while aid directed toward achieving economic growth is effective, it works best in countries that have implemented institutional reforms and have improved their ability to absorb the aid. The study also found that early impact aid produced the most benefit and that effectiveness tends to diminish over time. <new>15. <comment>42953Food Sovereignty: Ending World Hunger in Our Time, Frederic Mousseau and Anuradha Mittal, The Humanist, March/April 2006 International food aid could be distributed more efficiently if the food was obtained in the region. U.S. food aid is produced domestically and at least 75 percent of it must be shipped on U.S. carriers. While this benefits U.S. producers and shippers, it raises the cost of food aid substantially. Food purchased in the region not only costs less but helps stimulate agricultural production. <new>16. <comment>42954Crisis of Credibility, Walden Bello and Shalmali Guttal, Multinational Monitor, July/August 2005 Beginning in the late 1990s the IMF has seen a steady decline in its influence on the global financial system. The 1997 Asian financial crisis and its aftermath called into question the Fund's policy prescriptions and prompted a reappraisal of its role in developing countries. Evidence has indicated that with a few exceptions countries that followed structural adjustment policies did not achieve high rates of growth. 17. <comment>40898A Regime Changes, The Economist, June 4, 2005 The selection of Paul Wolfowitz as the new head of the World Bank was controversial. His knowledge of finance and development is limited and he is closely associated with the push for regime change in Iraq. His views will have an impact at the Bank as it becomes more deeply involved in promoting good governance, increasing capacity building, and other political issues. 18. <comment>37881Without Consent: Global Capital Mobility and Democracy, Jeff Faux, Dissent, Winter 2004 Writing the rules to govern the global trading system pits the interests of the world's elite against those of the poor. Neoliberalism, advocated by the wealthy countries and exemplified in NAFTA, has produced less than satisfactory results from the standpoint of developing countries. Efforts must be made to bring together those who advocate social justice and strengthen their negotiating position to advocate more effectively for the interests of the poor. UNIT 3. Conflict and Instability 19. <comment>40905The End of War?, Gregg Easterbrook, The New Republic, May 30, 2005 Contrary to popular perception, the level of conflict in the world has declined over the past fifteen years. This has been accompanied by an increase in the presence of factors that promote peace including economic prosperity, free elections, more stable governments, more peacekeeping institutions, and greater international engagement. There has also been a decline in worldwide military spending due to the end of the Cold War and great power conflict. <new>20. <comment>42956A "Shiite Crescent"? The Regional Impact of the Iraq War, Juan Cole, Current History, January 2006 The U.S. invasion of Iraq has profound implications for the entire region. The emergence of a Shiite majority in Iraq combined with the Shiite theocracy in neighboring Iran is emboldening Shiites in Lebanon, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. This poses a challenge to Sunni-dominated governments throughout the region. <new>21. <comment>42957Again, The New Republic, May 15, 2006 The conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of displaced people. There has been widespread press coverage of the humanitarian crisis and a great deal of debate about whether the killing constitutes genocide. However, there has been little in the way of action to stop the killing either by the western countries or by the larger international community. The African Union peacekeeping force deployed in Darfur is inadequate to the scope <new>22. <comment>42958Zimbabwe After Mugabe, Gideon Maltz, Current History, May 2006 Zimbabwe is teetering on the brink of economic collapse and political instability. President Robert Mugabe has retained power by lavishly rewarding his supporters, brutally repressing his opponents, rigging recent elections, and rejecting international criticism. Mugabe is old and has had health problems but his passing from the scene may simply open up a power struggle within the ranks of both supporters and opponents to succeed him. <new>23. <comment>42959The Pashtun Factor: Is Afghanistan Next in Line for an Ethnic Civil War?, Daniel Consolatore, The Humanist, May/June 2006 Despite presidential and parliamentary elections, Afghanistan has seen an increase in violence recently. Remnants of the Taliban have been strengthening their numbers and increasing their revenue from the booming opium trade. Ethnic fractionalization also threatens Afghanistan with sectarian violence similar to that in Iraq. <new>24. <comment>42960In Villages Across India, Maoist Guerrillas Widen 'People's War', Somini Sengupta, The New York Times, April 13, 2006 India's Maoist insurgency, with an estimated 20,000 rebels, has gained momentum recently and now has a presence in thirteen of India's twenty-eight states. Known as Naxalites after the town where the rebellion first erupted, the rebels have found a receptive audience among the young, the neglected, and those who have not prospered from India's economic growth. 25. <comment>37897The Democratic Mosaic, Martin Walker, The Wilson Quarterly, Spring 2004 A key component of the Bush Administration's strategy in the war on terrorism includes an effort to promote democracy in the Arab world. Although civil society organizations that are crucial to the development of democracy are present throughout much of the region and there is a growing middle class, the question remains as to whether democracy can be reconciled with Islamic views. <new>26. <comment>42962Bringing the Wicked to the Dock, The Economist, March 11, 2006 Gross violations of human rights represent one of the most difficult issues facing the international community. Truth and reconciliation processes are one way to begin healing while criminal prosecution either through ad hoc tribunals or the international Criminal Court represent another option. These legal efforts are the subject of controversy. Critics contend they are selective and can perpetuate conflict. Supporters argue that it is essential to hold violators accountable. UNIT 4. Political Change in the Developing World <new>27. <comment>42963The 2005 Freedom House Survey, Aili Piano and Arch Puddington, Journal of Democracy, January 2006 The most significant finding of the annual Freedom House survey of freedom around the world was a slight improvement in human rights and democratic freedom in the Middle East. There was also a slight improvement in the state of freedom worldwide with only four countries registering a decline in their status. <new>28. <comment>42964Fighting the War of Ideas, Zeyno Baran, Foreign Affairs, November/December 2005 An ideological struggle is being waged within Islam between those who believe Islam is compatible with democracy and those who want to establish a new caliphate. At the forefront of the latter school of thought is Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT). This organization is especially active in Turkey, central Asia, and western Europe and seeks to unite all Muslims in a global Islamic community. <new>29. <comment>42965Saudi Arabia, a Kingdom Divided, Alain Gresh, The Nation, May 22, 2006 Despite its reputation as a rigidly conservative society, Saudi Arabia is changing in large part due to communications technology. King Abdullah, who ascended the throne in 2005 is regarded as a moderate reformer who has allowed more discussion of social problems and is widely popular. Since September 11th, there has been growing awareness of the danger of religious extremism and there is increasing religious debate. <new>30. <comment>42966Iraq and Democracy: The Lessons Learned, Larry Diamond, Current History, January 2006 The U.S. invasion of Iraq has highlighted the difficulty of such an intervention and provided several lessons. The U.S. experience demonstrates the requirement of broad and sustained domestic and international support, the importance of preparation and adequate resources, and the need to construct electoral systems that will help to promote democracy. Power-sharing, negotiation, and compromise are also essential to defeat the insurgency. <new>31. <comment>42967Can Hamas Be Tamed?, Michael Herzog, Foreign Affairs, March/April 2006 The Islamist group, Hamas, won a surprising victory in Palestinian elections in January 2006. Its refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist, use of terrorist tactics, and support of the establishment of an Islamic state have raised questions about whether its electoral victory will moderate its stance. For this to happen, there must be a reasonably free political system, a balance of power that favors moderation, and sufficient time to co-opt Hamas. <new>32. <comment>42968Mbeki's South Africa, Jeffrey Herbst, Foreign Affairs, November/December 2005 South Africa has made significant progress since apartheid ended twelve years ago. There continue to be huge challenges, however, including high unemployment, concentration of wealth in relatively few hands, and the devastating effects of AIDS. Jeffrey Herbst argues that President Mbeki's policies have not adequately addressed South Africa's economic problems, the AIDS epidemic, nor the collapse of neighboring Zimbabwe. 33. <comment>40918Africa's Democratization: A Work in Progress, Jennifer Widner, Current History, May 2005 Many African countries have continued to make progress toward greater democracy but success has been uneven. While elections have been held in many countries, incumbents have frequently either manipulated newly established electoral rules, or in the case of Zimbabwe, simply intimidated the opposition. In other cases leaders sought constitutional amendments to allow them to run again. <new>34. <comment>42969Latin America's Left Turn, Jorge G. Casten'eda, Foreign Affairs, May/June 2006 Discussion of the recent trend toward leftist governments in Latin America often overlooks the two strands of leftist thought in the region, the traditional left with its origins in Marxism and leftist populism. The traditional left has undergone significant change and is now in power in Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil while lef t wing populism is evident in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Argentina. Jorge Casten'eda argues that the traditional left is more the more moderate and preferable option and should be encouraged. <new>35. <comment>42637Hugo Boss, Javier Corrales, Foreign Policy, January/February 2006 Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez, has emerged as a high-profile critic of both globalization and United States policy. He has pioneered an approach to governing which Javier Corrales calls competitive autocracy. His tactics include polarizing of society, attacking his opponents, spending on his supporters, manipulating the elections, and antagonizing the U.S. UNIT 5. Population, Development, Environment, and Health 36. <comment>37709The Global Baby Bust, Phillip Longman, Foreign Affairs, May/June 2004 Population growth is widely portrayed as a threat to Western lifestyles and development in the third world. In fact, population growth has declined by more than 40 percent since the 1960s and the effects of this trend are becoming increasingly apparent. The world's population is aging even in the developing world, and providing for an elderly population along with sustaining the incentives for investment and innovation is becoming a larger and larger issue. <new>37. <comment>42970Helping the Hungry More Efficiently, The Economist, March 11, 2006 Many of the world's humanitarian crises do not attract the large-scale funding that tsunami or earthquake relief does. The UN is setting up a new fund, the Central Emergency Response Fund, to raise and distribute disaster relief funds with no strings attached. Meanwhile the World Food Program has established a pilot program to insure against disaster. 38. <comment>40922Malaria, the Child Killer, Benjamin Joffe-Walt, BBC Focus on Africa, April/June 2005 Although HIV/AIDS kills more adults, malaria is the biggest killer of children worldwide. The cost of this disease is enormous for poor countries, but the search for a cure receives only one seventh of the amount contributed for AIDS research. The disease costs billions in lost production and could be eradicated for a fraction of that cost. 39. <comment>40926The Price of Life, Rachel Glennerster, Michael Kremer, and Heidi Williams, Foreign Policy, May/June 2005 The pharmaceutical industry spends billions of dollars a year on research and development of new drugs. Little of this money is spent on research into therapies for diseases prevalent in poor countries. <new>40. <comment>42972Reversal of Fortune, Anirudh Krishna, Foreign Policy, May/June 2006 Recent research suggests that gains in reducing poverty have been offset by large numbers becoming impoverished. The biggest contributor to this trend is the lack of adequate and affordable health care. Illness rapidly depletes resources often sending families into poverty and debt. Economic growth has to be accompanied by gains in health care to truly reduce poverty. <new>41. <comment>42973Down in the Woods, The Economist, March 25, 2006 Illegal logging is diminishing forest cover in several countries in the developing world. Indonesia's forest is being depleted at a rate of 3 percent per year and one third of its forests have disappeared in the last fifteen years. Certification schemes to insure that the timber is harvested legally and sustainably are being implemented in Indonesia and elsewhere in an effort to limit environmental damage. 42. <comment>40923Why We Owe So Much to Victims of Disaster, Andrew Simms, New Statesman, May 16, 2005 Andrew Simms argues that the industrialized countries are consuming way beyond their share of global resources. Instead of concentrating on poor countries' financial debts, the July G8 summit should focus on the industrialized world's ecological debt to the world's poor. Profligate use of the world's resources by the rich increases the likelihood of natural disasters associated with climate change that affect developing countries disproportionately. UNIT 6. Women and Development 43. <comment>40925Ten Years' Hard Labour, The Economist, September 4, 2004 Ten Years' Hard Labor, The Economist, September 4, 2004 (#40925) A September 2004 review conference, examining progress on goals established by the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, found mixed results in effecting policy changes. Despite an increase in their use, millions still lack access to contraceptives, poor women still die of causes related to childbirth, and sexual education programs are complicated by battles over condoms versus abstinence. Funding to reach the ICPD goals also continues to lag. <new>44. <comment>42974Educating Girls, Unlocking Development, Ruth Levine, Current History, March 2006 The education of girls has the potential to improve not only their lives but those of their family and the broader society. Educating girls has been shown to contribute to the growth of household and national income, improved health for women and children and lower fertility rates. These contributions to development make it even more important to focus on girls' school enrollments and completion, especially for ethnic and linguistic minorities. <new>45. <comment>42976Women and Warlords, Ann Jones, The Nation, May 22, 2006 Afghanistan's parliament is dominated by men with links to a variety of armed groups. However, a quota system has helped women achieve representation in parliament. Currently, one in four members of the lower house of parliament are women and in several cases women got enough votes to win even without the quota. Nevertheless, they face formidable opposition from conservative representatives. <new>46. <comment>42977Healing Powers, Joshua Hammer, Newsweek, April 3, 2006 The election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as Liberia's president and Africa's first female leader is indicative of a trend toward women playing a larger political role on the continent. This trend is a reflection of necessity in the case of Rwanda as well as recognition that the corruption, mismanagement, and conflict that have plagued the continent have been largely the result of male domination. Women's different priorities are bringing about a new policy focus. <new>47. <comment>42978Women, Islam and the New Iraq, Isobel Coleman, Foreign Affairs, January/February 2006 The central role of Islam in Iraq's new constitution potentially threatens women's rights. Allowing women full economic, political, and social rights will help reinforce democracy in Iraq and provide an example for the rest of the region. Women's rights will be protected through a progressive interpretations of Islamic law, a quota system to insure women's representation, efforts to promote education, and channeling reconstruction funds to Iraqi businesswomen.