Why the "One" Campaign Won't Work
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By now, many people have heard of the "One" Campaign (see: www.onecampaign.org). As with most things, it has wonderful intentions. Unfortunately, as the editors of the Kairos Journal explain, it won't work. They write: "We fervently support and encourage truly effective means to address the distress of the poor. Yet, in failing to identify the true causes of Third World poverty and thus advocate useful real solutions, the 'Make Poverty History' campaign is not just misguided, it is actually harmful." Read the whole article for their arguments.
World Magazine's new cover story is also on this issue, and they come to the same conclusion. They show that the debt relief will go to the government of the poor countries, not to the people. Macro-goals do not provide for the kind of accountability that is necessary and that actually works. Further, they argue that debt relief would have a chilling effect both on credit and on private charity.
World Magazine's new cover story is also on this issue, and they come to the same conclusion. They show that the debt relief will go to the government of the poor countries, not to the people. Macro-goals do not provide for the kind of accountability that is necessary and that actually works. Further, they argue that debt relief would have a chilling effect both on credit and on private charity.
posted by JT at Friday, June 17, 2005
4 Comments:
I’ve had a depressing week of reading American blogs that seem to believe uncritically that the American way of doing things is the answer to the world’s problems. The Kairos article is just another example of this. While I see the various problems with the means that the ONE campaign believes will ‘make poverty history’, I think they are a significant step forward. The Keiros article correctly points out that the campaign is focused entirely on the role of the West in Africa’s problems but that is because it is addressed to a Western audience and not an African one. The West can correct its own ‘sins of commission and omission’, but will have more problems correcting Africa’s.
I feel I should offer a number of criticisms that could be made of the article you endorse.
• The causes of Third World Poverty it identifies are not the only ones, and some of the most important, which the ‘make poverty history’ campaign rightly recognise, are overlooked.
Firstly it blames culture, when the incredible diversity of cultures contained in rich countries should make them think first.
Secondly it blames socialism, but it makes the typical American mistake of confusing a it with communism. I cannot think of a major African country that is communist, and the levels of State intervention in most of them dwarfs that of many European countries which over the past 50 years have continue to grow and lift many of their citizens out of poverty (I am aware that it is hard to generalise about European countries economies, and that excessive state intervention in some areas has limited growth. However, the type of economics pursued by African countries cannot be the main cause for their poverty if you look at the reality of their economies on the ground rather than making assumptions).
Thirdly it blames corruption, which while being a huge factor in keeping the continent poor cannot be seen as the most important. The article rightly lifts up East Asia as an example of how it is possible for African countries to escape poverty, but the corruption in many East Asian countries is similar, but has not stopped their economic growth (though it has hindered it).
• Other than the implicit encouragement to governments to help to remove corruption and encourage American-brand capitalism (and presumably secure peace in the more fragile areas) the article fails to suggest any ways to reduce the levels of poverty in the world. The G8 will be in favour of most of Kairos' suggestions, and have already done much in these areas, which means the article ends up providing no new solutions (no matter how incomplete) and implicitly endorses the status quo.
• I was shocked to see a Christian journal article not bring God, and his word to us, into the equation at any point. God’s law to the nation of Israel clearly saw the wisdom in a year of jubilee where debts would be cancelled and slaves set free. Kairos seems to see this as foolishness when applied to a third-world nation because it makes no sense in a worldview where the ‘rules’ of capitalism must be rigidly followed. I learnt from John Piper that God gave freely, even though we did not deserve it, it would make no sense to us, and his grace would most likely be squandered. How can we give like God does to help Africa? I think that debt relief is part of the answer.
• Lastly I was also shocked that a Christian journal article did not recognise that the unique perspective Christians have is that we recognise that poverty is the fault not of a few bad leaders, political turmoil, or communism but the fault of the human race, who chose to rebel and suffer the consequences to following God. The Kiaros article thinks that ‘Poverty is not inevitable and does not have to persist’ when it is an inevitable result of Adam’s sin, and will persist even in a country as rich as the US. However, again the article missed out on a chance to see the bigger picture and offer Africa the real hope of new creation where there will be no more poverty, and economic wealth will not be seen as the prime cause of happiness or sadness for individuals or nations.
Sorry for the ridiculously long comment but you tipped me over the edge, do'nt not take it personally though.
PS for what it matters, I will be at Edinburgh of July 2.
For a little more criticism of the article, they need to do a little more research. Some of the worst nations are not even eligible for aid or debt relief, because of their political "problems". Nations like Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the Congo were not even included in the debt relief package.
Several years ago we (the United States, along with several of the wealthiest nations in the world) comitted to giving 0.7% of our budget for foreign aid to help alleviate global poverty. But we continue to ignore this committment that we made. .7%! That is all.
The world spent over 1 trillion on military expenses last year and less that 80 billion on aid.
Doesn't anyone else think that our priorities are out of wack?
by the way...two different dave's. The second comment and this comment are mine!
http://brendoman.com/hippydave
Remember Kairos has a clear position and is funded by a millionaire Republican who wants to hear Pastors speaking the way he likes to hear. You can be sure they will not be in favour of anything that is bad for business. Kairos holds a mirror to the ruling US elite and says "you are beautiful, love yourself because God does.".
In particular, their enthusiasm for mediaeval catholic "Just War" theory is a way of justifying particularly the current wars of USA, UK and Israel.
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