Traditionally strategies aimed at accelerating economic development in Africa have focused on strengthening domestic resource mobilization and attracting more external capital to fill the large financing gaps faced by the continent. Much less attention has been paid to the illicit export of Africa’s capital – capital flight. This approach has perpetuated Africa’s dependence on external financing while ‘normalizing’ the plunder of Africa’s wealth through unfair trade and illicit financial flows.
Germany’s assumption of the G20 presidency kicked off on 1 December 2016 with a concerted presentation of its priorities, as the multilateral economic and financial forum looks towards its Hamburg Summit of July 2017. Of note among these priorities is the Compact with Africa through which Germany seeks to intensify partnerships with Africa
Africa has recently gained a lot of attention in international politics, particularly in Germany and the European Union. However, various unknowns on the African continent and Africa’s complex interdependence with world politics leave many question marks for inter- and transnational cooperation. It is certain that sustainable development in Africa will only be achieved through structural political and economic Transformation.
Entwicklungspolitik und – zusammenarbeit haben in den letzten beiden Jahren deutlich an politischem Stellenwert gewonnen. Das hängt allerdings weniger mit den Erfolgen der Vergangenheit zusammen, sondern vor allem mit der Debatte über Fluchtursachen und der darin der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit zugedachten Rolle. Ob sie diese sehr ambitionierte Rolle tatsächlich überall ausfüllen kann -etwa in akuten Konflikten wie in Syrien oder dem Südsudan – wage ich zu bezweifeln.
Recent elections in both emerging and developed countries have shown that a growing proportion of our citizenry is discontent with the political establishment, as populist causes have gained support in many parts of the world. Trust in politicians and public institution is eroding. For too long, we have ignored these trends.
