CULTURE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY IN AFRICA: REMODELLING THE OPTIONS 1

Insttute for African Culture And Internatonal Understanding Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
No. 3, July-September 2014
Culture and Economic Security in
Africa: Remodelling the Options
IACIU Policy Brief is a
publicaton of the Insttute
for African Culture and
Internatonal Understanding,
a UNESCO Category 2
Insttute at the Olusegun
Obasanjo Presidental
Library, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
The series of Policy Briefs is
designed to meet the needs
of policy-makers, culture
experts and development
specialists in addressing
emerging issues on African
culture and the promoton of
internatonal understanding
within and outside
the Africa region. The aim is
to develop key messages to
support evidence-informed
policy-making. The Policy
Briefs will synthesise existng
research knowledge on
a policy or practce issue
of importance. They will
address the questons: What
is the research evidence
related to a given policy or
practce and what policy
recommendatons follow
from the evidence?
Summary
Throughout history, great natons have been built and great developmental strides atained, not by
inchoate policies or untailored measures, but by well-artculated systematc policies of sustained
development. Development policies and programmes must be circumscribed by a clear understanding
of the crucial role of the forces of cultural and economic security on the development process of Africa.
Given the giant leap in economic, politcal and social development by other developing contnents
vis--vis Africa, it has become imperatve to ponder the queston: Do African cultures encumber or
foster Africas economic development? Is Africas leadership challenge rooted in her cultural heritage?
Despite huge natural resources and potentals, the crisis of Africas poverty and underdevelopment
juxtaposing corrupt and inept natonal leadership warrants a reassessment of the trajectories of Africas
development. Understanding the crucial role of the dynamics of culture and security in economic
development of naton states is important, especially given global commitment to democracy, human
rights and pluralism (politcal, religious and cultural). This Policy Brief identfes the cultural challenges
that cause the success or failure of natonal development in Africa. It prescribes the synthesis and
remodelling of the apparatuses of cultural and economic security in the bid to foster economic
development in the region.
Introducton
T
he interest of this policy brief is on the important role of the amalgam of
cultural security and economic security on the development process of Africa.
In one dimension, the issue can be put diferently thus: Do African cultures
encumber or foster Africas economic development? Understanding the crucial role
of the interplay of cultural dynamics with economic development of naton states
is important, especially in a capitalist economy. Further, understanding the complex
systems of natonal security and why the economy is a part of the equaton is crucial.
Globalisaton has made the world a small place, and world peace and security may
depend upon our ability to understand and artculate these issues and, in partcular,
to recognise the importance of the dynamics of cultural and economic security of
natonal, regional and contnental power.
There is a school of thought that holds the view that actvites and conditons
within the economy fundamentally infuence the operatons of the state (see, Block,
1977; Szymanski, 1978; Crouch, 1979; and Herbert, 2011). In a pluralist capitalist
Published by the Insttute for African Culture And Internatonal Understanding
Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library, Abeokuta, Nigeria
ISSN : 2354-234X
CULTURE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY IN AFRICA: REMODELLING THE OPTIONS
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Insttute for African Culture And Internatonal Understanding Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
The aim is to
enrich extant
knowledge
about the way
African cultures
frustrate or
encumber
Africas
economic
development.
society, the confguraton of economic actvites is on the basis of private ownership of
the societys productve resources, with the producton, distributon, and consumpton
of wealth governed by social relatons centred on the dynamics of the market and
culture of the people. Culture is a catalyst in social cohesion and stability of society.
Social stability in the broadest sense is dependent on a healthy economy. This Policy
Brief identfes the cultural challenges that cause the success or failure of natonal
development. Much of the success or failure resonates with the government of the
day, as represented by the countrys leader. The emphasis of natonal development
targets a redefniton of the role and behaviour of a leader in the governance and
transformaton process of the society. From this perspectve, the critcal queston is:
Is it possible to evolve, integrate and manage cultural changes that foster economic
development?
Fig. 1: The Neglect of African cultural values is the source of Africas
economic security
Every society has a culture, which defnes and carries its values. A societys culture infuences the thoughts,
feelings and actons of her people. Africas cultural security encompasses Africas invaluable human
qualites and traditons which were endowed on us in our cultural heritage. However, colonisaton and
neo-colonisaton in the face of western civilizaton has robbed the contnent of her cultural security, and
with it economic security. There is a connecton between Africas economic insecurity and the neglect of
African cultural values which were embedded in our identty and security as Africans.
The theme of this Policy Brief seeks to evaluate culture and economic security issues
and their natonal, regional or contnental security implicatons. It derives from a
growing concern about the failure or inadequacy of extant models and how these
can be remodelled. The Brief atempts to locate the interrelaton between cultural
security and economic security and its impact on Africas economic development.
The aim is to enrich extant knowledge about the way African cultures frustrate or
encumber Africas economic development. Remodelling the optons has become
imperatve in contemporary geopolitcs, with the ubiquitous incursion of globalisaton
in the afairs of individuals, communites and naton states, and culture and economic
security issues assuming more important and more internatonal dimensions. These
dimensions warrant a mandate for a deeper look at their role in economic development
and growth.
It is helpful to provide on the onset some conceptual overview of economic
and cultural security as a prelude to the special relevance of cultural and economic
security in economic development. The consequences of economic insecurity can be
CULTURE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY IN AFRICA: REMODELLING THE OPTIONS 3
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The underlying
theme is that
human beings
are wantng or
craving beings
in a steady
state of wants.
As they satsfy
one need the
next emerges
on its own
and demands
satsfacton.
gleaned from the factors that pose a threat to economic security. The global context of
the relatons between African cultures and Africas socioeconomic development sets
the stage for contnental agendas in perspectve and the policy optons. Looking ahead
provides the background to concluding remarks.
Some Conceptualising
Security (need to feel safe) joins with physiological needs for survival (need to stay alive
and reproduce) to form the most fundamental and most pressing needs of humanity,
under Maslows Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow, 1943, 1954). These are followed by
social needs (for love and belonging) and self-esteem needs (to feel worthy, respected
and have status). The fnal and highest level of needs is self-actualisaton needs (self-
fulflment and achievement). The underlying theme is that human beings are wantng
or craving beings in a steady state of wants. As they satsfy one need the next
emerges on its own and demands satsfacton. The desire or hunger for more or beter
things in life culminates in the need for self-actualizaton which, by its very nature,
cannot be fully satsfed and thus cannot generate more needs.
The antecedent to Maslows motvaton theory of pecking order of human
needs might have been the 1948 United Natons Charter on the fundamental human
rights, and dignity and worth of the human person which require global commitment
to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental
freedoms for all without distncton as to race, sex, language, or religion. The adopton
of the Universal Declaraton (UN, 1948) is a signifcant internatonal commemoraton
marked each year on 10 December, and is known as Human Rights Day or Internatonal
Human Rights Day. The Universal Declaraton is anchored on four freedom pillars:
freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from fear, and freedom from want,
which were derivatves of the four basic war aims adopted by the Allies to guide the
prosecuton of World War II.
Security in all its ramifcatons is fundamental to, and coextensive with,
development, wealth creaton and wealth of natons. Once security needs are solved,
they calm the frayed nerves of economic development and the various strains that
pull a naton or a region apart. Therefore, cultural and economic insecurity provides
a unique framework to explain the explosion of poverty, diseases, intractable ethnic
militancy and religious tension, and terrorism, all tapping into the deep veins of
insecurity and human desperaton in Africa.
Fig. 2: Face of Insecurity in Africa: The Bane of our Economic Development
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Economic security has preoccupied natonal governments and global
insttutons such as the United Natons for many years. However, its global resonance
assumed greater proporton following the unexpected and severe dimensions of
the economic shocks of the 1980s and the recent global meltdown of 2008-2009
which severely shook and threatened the foundaton of extant social and politcal
arrangements. Economic security, also known as fnancial security is the derivatve
conditon of income or resource stability to support and sustain a given standard
of living, both now and in the foreseeable future. Economic security encompasses
contnued solvency, predictability of future stream of cash fows, and employment or
job security. In simple terms, to be economically secure is to have sufcient resources
to cover ones daily needs or expenses.
In broader natonal, regional or geopolitcal consideraton, economic security has a
much wider connotaton than just fnancial security. Financial security is commonly
associated with individual and family income or asset stability, including money
management and savings. Economic security, on the other hand, has a wider
connotaton. It includes the wider efect of natonal producton and productvity
levels and monetary support for the unemployed and the elderly. Economic security
implicates the compettve advantage of a naton. It is ofen used euphemistcally to
promote the safety, well-being, and self-sufciency of children, adults, and families.
Economic security is also used in the context of politcs and internatonal relatons.
Under this genre, it adumbrates a countrys ability to follow its choice of policies to
develop the natonal economy in the manner desired. In this connecton, governments
deploy economic security as a politcal tool to justfy or underscore certain public
policies, such as underwritng the countrys diplomacy and development eforts or the
impositon of tarifs or a ban on the importaton of certain goods as part of a strategic
impulse in promotng natonal security. In todays complex system of internatonal
trade, characterised by mult-lateral agreements, mutual inter-dependence and
availability of natural resources, economic security may be as important a part of
natonal security as military policy. The confguraton of internatonal setlements
may include propositons for economic security as a key determinant of internatonal
relatons. To be sure, threats to a countrys economic security are in many respects
construed as economic espionage, tantamount to acts of aggression or coerciveness
by a foreign government with the aim of gaining unauthorised access to economic
intelligence, such as proprietary informaton or technology, for economic advantage.
Towards a Conceptual Framework of Cultural Security
The term cultural security is not amenable to a precise defniton. It is a compound
terminology with a composite meaning, which depends on the notons of culture and
security. From the perspectve of culture, cultural security refers to the preservaton
or protecton of the heritage and values of a people or a naton (see Nemeth, 2013).
From the security lens, the term designates the signifcance of culture to natonal,
regional, or internatonal security. Cultural security contextualises the evolving role of
culture in politcs, economics, and natonal and internatonal security.
However, diferent natonal contexts evoke diferent perceptons just as specifc
natonal contexts str up specifc perceptons. For example, in Australia, cultural
security is used in the context of the aborigines with respect to how modernisaton
threatens to change their way of life (AHRC, 2011). In China, cultural security is used
as a politcal tool to guard against the perceived negatve infuence of foreign culture,
especially the infux of foreign pop music. In Africa, the term is used to express the
concerns of African governments over the impact of globalisaton and development
on local traditons.
Cultural security
contextualises
the evolving
role of culture
in politcs,
economics, and
natonal and
internatonal
security.
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In the wake of globalisaton, there has been a growing percepton that the
central and most discontent of the emerging global order is the confict between
groups from difering civilisatons. For example, several initatves of global bodies like
the U.N., World Bank, IMF, and WTO have grassroots consequences for many societes,
cultures and beliefs. Initatves such as the Millennium Development Goals, poverty-
reducton strategies, girl-child educaton, healthcare delivery campaigns (ant-malaria
and AIDS awareness campaigns) have obvious implicatons for rural communites.
The joining of unmet challenges of extreme poverty with these seemingly innocuous
global initatves not only challenges cultural orthodoxies of inner civilisatons, but
more importantly the ensuing clashes of civilisatons (Huntngton, 2002) threaten
natonal and global security. For example, in many parts of Africa, especially in the
core Muslim communites, there has been a resentment towards polio immunizaton
and other conventonal healthcare practces based on religious precepts. This cultural
or religious aversion to global best medicare practce is reprehensible or opprobrious,
but it refects the deep-rooted cultural resentment by a people held together by
nothing more than religious belief or sentment. Perhaps, this antpathy illustrates the
ideological foundaton of the Boko Haram sect against Western educaton and Western
cultures even when the sect uses Western weaponry to prosecute its militarised
agenda.
Thus, as globalisaton and internatonal development initatves creep into
the crevices of local communites and insttutons, the resultant clash of civilisaton
impacts on the beliefs, practces and traditonal values of the indigenous people
and communites. The situaton becomes more complex when cultural artefacts
of a people or country become a subject of foreign protecton, with the growing
interest in the global market for antquites and tribal art. In recent tmes, there has
been internatonal outcry over the sale of ancient tribal or indigenous artefacts that
transcend current cultural property laws (See, Sally Johnson on CulturalSecurity.net.).
Recently too, UNESCO has, under its World Heritage Sites, identfed with the need to
preserve cultural heritage across the world. When monuments on the World Heritage
Sites are threatened by natural erosion or economic development, cultural security
assumes a global signifcance.
The introducton of cultural security was informed by two major objectves. The
frst is to bring into mainstream economics literature an understanding of the important
role indigenous and non-indigenous cultures, knowledge and experiences play in
economic development, and to acknowledge that peoples beliefs, experiences, and
practces play a signifcant part in determining economic outcomes. This informaton
framework will assist in developing new and improved strategies for Africas economic
development.
Secondly, the longer term goal of cultural and economic security is to draw the
atenton of African governments, business leaders, academics, NGOs and CSOs to the
important role of cultural imperatves or dynamics of societys mores on the politcal,
social and economic development of naton states. This is to raise their consciousness
of the need to improve socioeconomic outcomes for Africa by developing African
professionals with the capacity to provide culturally appropriate services. Cultural
awareness and understanding and cultural safety and security are viewed as essental
in improving economic outcomes for natonal and regional development. Raising the
consciousness of the signifcance of indigenous cultures may enhance the delivery of
social services, especially educaton and healthcare (See for example, Bessarab, 2000;
Cofn, 2008; Drury, 2010).
Perhaps, this
antpathy
illustrates the
ideological
foundaton
of the Boko
Haram sect
against Western
educaton
and Western
cultures even
when the sect
uses Western
weaponry to
prosecute its
militarised
agenda.
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Dimensionalising Cultural Security
Cultural security is a broad concept that encompasses cultural safety, cultural sensitvity,
and cultural awareness (see Cofn, 2007). Cultural safety refers to the conditon in
which people recognise their own culture, language, customs, attudes, beliefs and
preferred ways of doing things in their social and economic environment, workplace
or public setng. Cultural sensitvity is associated with an evaluaton and comparison
of diferent attudes and experiences, examining how personal experiences,
attudes and prejudices can infuence the lives of other people, partcularly in the
socioeconomic setng. Cultural awareness is about learning about the culture of
various communites, including the natves or aborigines. The overarching goal of
cultural security is to improve indigenous peoples access, experience and outcomes
of mainstream services. Cultural security directly links understandings and actons.
Policies and procedures create processes that are automatcally applied from the tme
indigenous people frst seek socioeconomic service, such as educaton and healthcare
(ibid.). In essence, cultural safety encapsulates the relatonships needed to foster
cultural renewal and revitalisaton in indigenous communites, while cultural security
refers to the obligatons of evolving policies and adoptng practces which ensure that
all interactons with indigenous communites adequately conform to or meet their
cultural needs.
Cultural Security and Security Culture
Ofen, there is a mix-up in the usage of the terms cultural security and security
culture. Security culture refers to a set of customs, values, tenets shared by a
community of people whose practces and/or actvites threaten natonal or global
stability. Note that it is not merely the membership of the group or sect that poses
security challenge, even though that may be instrumental; rather, it is their behavioural
patern and obnoxious practces which actually or putatvely violate or threaten the
rights of other citzens and put them in danger. Because it is the natural responsibility
of the state (government through its security agencies) to protect lives and property,
any culture, traditon, belief or practce that threatens or has the potental to threaten
regional, natonal or global security is bound to be viewed in reprehensible terms and
resisted. In specifc terms, the focus of security culture is to keep infltrators and
other potentally-damaging partes out.
Writng under the Recent news references to cultural security (weblog
CulturalSecurity.org), Sally Johnson, Eric Nemeth and others note that cultural security
explores the politcal economy of art and the power of cultural heritage in diplomacy.
They further observe that research, analysis, and creatvity shape the space in which
art and culture infuence foreign policy and security. Thus, cultural security is about the
interrelaton of cultural property, diplomacy, and internatonal security; and research
in cultural security is an examinaton of this interrelaton to defne a framework for
cultural intelligence.
Threats to Economic Security and Consequences of
Economic Insecurity
Why does economic insecurity mater? Economic insecurity manifests in several
forms. The following circumstances are important guides to individual or collectve
(natonal) economic insecurity: low or no earnings due to unemployment or loss
of employment or a large unexpected cost, signifcant decline in income, sustained
Raising the
consciousness
of the
signifcance
of indigenous
cultures may
enhance the
delivery of
social services,
especially
educaton and
healthcare.
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period of unemployment, signifcant loss of assets or resources, and large unexpected
costs.
Economic insecurity reduces living standards, exacerbates unemployment, increases
anxiety and stress, and dislocates the economy. The growing level of ignorance and
indiference aggravates economic insecurity by fuelling suspicion, ethnic prejudice
and religious bigotry. The evidence of these is glaring in the North Eastern part of
Nigeria, mainly, Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States, following the unrelentng terrorist
actvites of the Boko Haram sect. Having a persistently low income or prolonged
unemployment and/or being at risk of a signifcant decline in income can be stressful.
Also, people on persistent low income tend to be unhappy just as unemployed people
tend to experience bouts of unhappiness. This explains why social insurance provision
is a key component of governments social responsibility in advanced economies. In
these climes, most popular government social programs- social security, medicare,
unemployment beneft or compensaton - are viewed as economic security insurance
rather than (welfare) redistributon. In Africa and many developing countries, social
and economic security is rooted in nuclear and extended family setups. Parents and
relatves naturally look up to their children or close relatves for social welfare and
economic security support.
Relatons between Culture and Economic Development
The new insttutonal economics has been preoccupied with the origins, incidence, and
ramifcatons of economic transactons. A largely unexplored praxis is the relatonship
between African cultures and Africas socioeconomic development. Putatvely,
how have African cultures contributed to or hampered Africas socioeconomic
development? Are African cultures an impediment to Africas socioeconomic
development? If so, dramatc social and cultural shifs may be warranted in identfying
egalitarian market-driven industrialisaton cultures that require attudinal changes.
There is unanimity with the propositon that economic development is a derivatve
of complex and important social and cultural imperatves. However, there is much
less agreement on the atributes of these imperatves and how and why they have
evolved to take on current economic development confguraton. It is acknowledged
that economic development is mainly to be understood as the product of a series
of cultural innovatons. History has shown that there is a cultural dimension to
economic development, and vice versa. For example, the general concession that
the existence of formal economic insttutons, such as property rights, rule of law,
and contract enforcement, facilitates economic development also presupposes the
insttutonalisaton of certain norms or social values that promote market exchange,
savings, and investment (Huntngton, 2002). This is the context of the relatonship
between culture and economic behaviour.
Cultural Infrastructure and Africas Development
That Africa has a rich cultural heritage is irrefutable. That there is a close relatonship
between a societys culture and attudes of the people and economic development
or the trajectory thereof is made eloquent by the giant strides of the Asian Tigers. To
be sure, African culture is imbued with warmth, hospitality and sense of communal
relatons; it is built on optmism and resilience, even in the face of adversity; it thrives
on collectvism based on communal efort; it is anchored on tribal politcs, leadership
and patronage. Historically, it is largely agrarian and bucolic; and it is secured on self-
determinaton. It is said that civilisaton began in Africa, precisely in Egypt. In fact,
Economic
insecurity
reduces living
standards,
exacerbates
unemployment,
increases
anxiety and
stress, and
dislocates the
economy
African culture
is imbued
with warmth,
hospitality
and sense of
communal
relatons.
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in the traditonal African society, some of the egregious manipulatve tendencies of
the urban elite, such as corrupton, lack of transparency and accountability, are very
un-African. In a sense, the original architecture of African culture bore ingredients of
competence, compettveness, discipline, hard work, individual and communal trust
and resilience.
Speaking of infrastructure, two distnct kinds are critcal in sustaining
economic development of a naton: physical infrastructure and cultural infrastructure.
Investments in physical social development insttutons such as educaton, power
supply, healthcare, transport system, telecommunicatons, legal, security (police and
armed forces), legislature and public sector agencies are classic examples of physical
infrastructure. Sustained investments in physical infrastructure enhance a countrys
global compettveness through the creaton of its own unique compettve advantage.
Natonal compettveness can obviously arise out of the aforementoned physical
infrastructure. However, because physical infrastructure can be acquired from the
market (that is, bought and sold on the basis of supply and demand), transplanted and
replicated anywhere, their availability does not necessarily promise or sustain long-
term compettve advantages. A naton needs to build a strong cultural infrastructure
which will help create clear diferentatng atributes.
The noton of cultural infrastructure connotes two things. First, it requires
a strong cultural environment. Cultural environment provides the hospitable
atmosphere in which human capacity development fourishes. It empowers citzens
and foreign entrepreneurs alike through efectve knowledge creaton, communicaton
and applicaton. As earlier noted, the architecture of traditonal African culture
consists of industry, adroitness, communal efort and trustworthiness. When properly
harnessed, these cultural features can stmulate competence, ingenuity, innovaton
and entrepreneurial compettveness, discipline, trust and resilience in the workplace.
These atributes are at the heart of natonal advantage.
Second and related, cultural environment does not evolve on its own nor is it a
happenstance phenomenon. Rather, creatng appropriate cultural atmosphere of the
kind that supports socioeconomic development and economic growth is the result of
deliberate government policies under strong politcal leadership. Governments at all
levels have a responsibility for, and must focus on, enhancing factors of producton.
This entails massive investment in knowledge acquisiton and improvement,
essentally educaton at basic and post-basic levels, training and retraining, vocatonal
and entrepreneurial skills acquisiton. In additon, the architecture to support market
economy must be available, accessible and inclusive, including banking facilites
with credit availability. Access to social opportunites that arise from a market-
driven economy should be the driving force behind all government policies. But the
economic opportunites so created can only be accessed by citzens who have the
ability to beneft thereof. The efectveness of a market mechanism and the ability of
a wider populaton of the citzenry to beneft from it its inclusiveness or reach are
determined by the countrys level of educaton as a proxy to the countrys human
capital and capabilites.
Just as the distributon of culture in the world refects the distributon of
power, so does its extncton or atenuaton signify loss of infuence. The erosion of
the bonds of colonial rule following politcal independence in the 1950s and 1960s
saw a gradual atenuaton of colonial culture. The indigenisaton of natonal cultures
progressively swept away colonial hegemony with their cultures and civilisatons, and
in their place brought a rapid reasserton of indigenous mores, beliefs, languages,
Government at
all levels have
a responsibility
for, and must
focus on,
enhancing
factors of
producton. This
entails massive
investment
in knowledge
acquisiton and
improvement,
essentally
educaton at
basic and post-
basic levels
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and insttutons. The rapid disappearance of Western societes and civilisatons and
the growing power of indigenous cultures produced, at worst, powerful ant-Western
civilisatons, or gradual dismantling of the apparatuses of Western societes, at best.
Ancient kingdoms with historically rooted traditons became the command power
and new order of village or rural community life. The gains of colonial civilisaton and
cultures were lost and abandoned to the ignominy of ruthless, visionless and corrupt
independent African leaders through several military interregnums. Emergent African
leaders were soon to become the contnents worst post-colonial masters. It did not
take long before post-colonial African rule assumed a new imperialist posture with
nightmarish consequences in cultural, economic and politcal respects. The new
imperialist leaders soon transformed African countries into a contnent of great
potentals and unfulflled promises.
One statstc that eloquently captures the failed cultures and jaundiced
civilisaton of Africa is the socioeconomic development gap that now exists between
Africa and South Korea and South East Asia. Yet, during the early years of the post-
colonial era, the GDP of many African countries was at par with, if not beter than,
the Asian tgers. But sadly, Africa has dwindled and has been groaning with poverty,
diseases, corrupton, and inept leadership. By a 2013 account, South Koreas GDP is
multple tmes larger than most African countries GDP. For example, South Korea is
ranked 15th in the current global list of countries by GDP (Nominal), with US$1,116,247,
while the closest African country, South Africa, is ranked 29th with a distant GDP of
US$408,074 (before Nigerias rebasing of GDP). What is responsible for the abysmal
performance and failure of the African contnent in comparatve terms? How and
where did the rain start beatng us, African people? What explains this sad realism?
At the individual level, Africans are industrious, skilful, creatve, responsible,
compettve and resilient. These are essentally the moral grounds upon which
productvity and civilisaton fourish. They are the cultural values that underpin
the prosperity of naton states. While it is indisputable that much of the individual
achievements of the rich Africans are cocktailed with palace corrupton, patronage
and manipulaton (through state contracts and concessions), the individual wealth
successes lead one to ask: Does the wealth of individual citzens agglomerate to the
wealth of a naton?
Policy Optons
Adopton of the Clinical Economics Framework
In order to break away from, and avoid many of the mistakes and pitalls of the past,
tme has come for an auspicious adopton of a clinical economics approach (Sachs,
2005; 2011) as a new economic policy and development paradigm. This approach
calls for three basic propositons. First, it requires that natonal governments adopt a
diferental ideological basis to underpin policy formulaton and development. Second,
it demands that governments undertake a thorough diagnosis of their developmental
problems a SWOT analysis - so as to contextualise their strengths and weaknesses. A
clinical economics approach demands a focus in orientaton in the pursuit of economic
development. The approach must be clinically diagnostc in identfying and addressing
critcal factors that have facilitated or hampered economic growth of Africa.
Macroeconomic policies should diagnose the source and reasons for economic crises
and seek ways to correct breakdowns in key sectors of the economy. This may entail
a detailed analysis and an understanding of how the diferent parts of the economy
and society ft together and interact with the world economy through trade, fnance,
Key Policy
Optons
1. Natonal governments
should adopt a diferental
ideological basis to underpin
policy formulaton and
development using the
clinical economics framework
2. Natonal and regional
partnership for IKS resource
sharing and which supports
research with cross-cutng
themes and authorship,
transcending natonal
boundaries.
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Insttute for African Culture And Internatonal Understanding Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
and geopolitcs. First, there should be an understanding of the peoples beliefs, the
countrys social history, and the societys underlying values. All of these necessitate a
broad and eclectc set of tools. The ground for lastng economic solutons is watered
by (a) the interplay of economics, politcs, and the societys culture, and (b) bringing
these components into a proper balance.
African governments should show a stronger commitment to a beter
tomorrow, a beter Africa, with a readiness to take risks and seek renewal of hope
of their citzens. African leaders should rise to embrace a new fronter of human
security-based socioeconomic development, driven by large investments in educaton
(at all levels), healthcare services, innovaton and entrepreneurship to make greater
contributon to fulflling peoples dreams of steady power supply, quality educaton,
healthcare delivery system, efcient transport system, equality of life and justce,
prosperity, and freedom for everyone, everywhere.
The clinical economics approach identfes with cultural and economic security-based
development paradigms, taking a holistc view of Africas economic, social and politcal
predicaments and challenges. This perspectve enables policy makers, at natonal and
regional levels, to diagnose some of the deeper maladies afictng their societes and
to correct past basic misdiagnoses that have aficted and stll afict development.
Fig. 3: Has Africa been moving in the wrong directon? Need for
Remodelling the Optons
Equivalent of Marshall Plan
Africa must consciously develop a comprehensive economic development plan to
ensure Africas economic stability and strategic security in the 21st century. The road
to Africas recovery and prosperity is long, winding and tortuous. It probably needs
fnancial aid on the scale of the Marshall Plan. Like the European economies afer
World War II, ethnic wars, extreme poverty, diseases, bad governance and all indices
of human degradaton and underdevelopment have ravaged Africa. Africa exhibits all
the atributes of post-World War II Europe. Africa needs massive rebuilding of her
devastated economies and regions. Africa needs a large-scale rescue programme whose
goals should be (a) to rebuild devastated regions of Africa, (b) build and modernise
The observaton by Shakespeare that, the of sight of means to do ill deeds makes deeds ill done seems
applicable to the intractable perverseness of African society. The modern African system is defcient, from
government structures and policies to individual private lives. Economic insecurity in todays Africa is a
compelling evidence of cultural insecurity. Why is it that things that work very well in other contnents do
not work in Africa? Why is Africa totering when the rest of the world is advancing?
Key Policy
Optons- contd
3. Africa must consciously
develop a comprehensive
economic development plan
(equivalent of a Marshall
Plan) to ensure the regions
economic stability and
strategic security in the 21st
century.
4. Council for Africa-
China Relatons (CACR)
and the African Council
for Cultural and Economic
Relatons (ACCER) should be
established at the regional
level.
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its infrastructure (electricity and transport system, in partcular), (c) remove trade
barriers, (d) modernise her industries, (e) improve educaton and literacy rates, and (f)
engender transparent and accountable governance in both public and private sectors.
With faithful implementaton, levels of poverty and unemployment and associated
social vices will be drastcally reduced.
Grand Strategy for Indo-China Relatons
With the growing infuence of China and India in the economic and politcal afairs of
Africa, there is need for a strategic refecton on the mistakes of the past with American
and European jaundiced and one-sided partnerships. China is now the focus of great
optmism as a powerful emerging naton that would be a showcase for industrialisaton
and globalisaton. With studied retrospecton, individual African countries and the
contnent as a whole would be wise to construct their newfound bonds with China
and India, based on cultural and economic security. In this regard, this Policy Brief
suggests the establishment of Council for Africa-China Relatons (CACR) to provide a
mechanism to conduct foresight studies, evaluate natonal and contnental economic
and cultural relatons, and develop the grand strategies that would follow. The studies
would look at the entre African system, such as the economy and its relatonship to
natonal, regional and contnental security. Another neglected but important policy
agenda to engage Africas economic and cultural security in the face of globalisaton
and its discontents is the imperatve for African Council for Cultural and Economic
Relatons (ACCER).
Governments all over the world ofen have cause to impose tarifs or ban
certain items altogether. Impositon of tarifs or ban on importaton of certain goods
is part of a strategic impulse to promote natonal security. Such policies are aimed at
guaranteeing self-sufciency, saving foreign currencies, protectng domestc industries,
generatng employment, and enhancing economic growth and development. Achieving
these goals requires strategic efort not only on a natonal level but also entails
regional and contnental cooperaton. An important aspect of regional economic and
trade agreements is to ensure inter-natonal cooperaton in regional development. It
is hereby suggested that regional and Africa-wide cooperatve eforts be enhanced to
elicit unanimous positon during the WTO rounds of talks and agreements.
The strategy of syncretsm or harnessing aspects of traditonal cultures, beliefs
or practces for essentally economic (managerial) ends was a major factor contributng
to the success of industrialisaton in Japan since the end of 19th century (Dore, 1973)
and in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan since the 1950s (Hamilton and
Biggart, 1988; Clegg, 1990). While all these Asian natons have a relatvely homogenous
cultural milieu, African countries, by contrast, are mult-ethnic societes.
A large populaton of Africans live outside Africa. As such, there has to be a
concerted efort to create a homeward awareness of roots of African-Americans and
the African diaspora. Such homeward historical journeys must be properly harnessed
and structured on the basis of ancestral historicity. African-Americans are fascinated
by their history and have a yearning for their past and their roots. If well-cultvated,
such desires can open up excitng vistas of global cooperaton and investment in the
land of their fathers and forefathers. In additon, through constructve engagements of
the African diaspora Africa can elicit investment contributon to their motherland, just
as the ofshore Chinese and Indian communites, in terms of investment, remitances
and social networking. The prayers, hope and the bond of Africans at home and in
the diaspora, including African-Americans, are for a new Africa which we all can call
our home; a fourishing contnent that is devoid of bad governance, corrupt business
practces, extreme poverty, diseases, ethnic tensions, wars and other social vices. With
Key Policy
Optons- contd
5. Regional and Africa-
wide cooperatve eforts
be enhanced to elicit
unanimous positon during
the WTO rounds of talks and
agreements.
6. Concerted efort
to create a homeward
awareness of roots of
African-Americans and the
African diaspora
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a renewed strategic focus, the seeds of a new Africa can grow from the imaginaton
of exiled Africans. At the gateway to this dynamic and globalised 21st century, Africa
must build on a head start in transforming its peoples and societes by remodelling the
optons for culture and economic security in the contnent.
Concluding Remarks
The foundaton of Africas strength must lie in its cultural and economic growth. In the
long run, the welfare of African people will determine Africas strength in the world;
partcularly, as natonal, regional and contnental economies become increasingly
integrated and inextricably linked to other economies. Africas prosperity must serve
as a wellspring for her power. Her cultural and economic strength will pay for her
military, underwrite her diplomacy and development eforts, and serve as a leading
source of her infuence in the world.
Africa cannot aford to take cultural and economic security for granted nor can
she take economic growth, stability, and prosperity for granted. The fact that Africa is
endowed with natural resources should not blight her vision while other contnents are
all pursuing aggressive natonalistc and regional policies of economic development and
growth. Africa cannot also pretend or presume that public order, security, economic
and social progress, and prosperity come naturally. Instead, African governments need
to realise that socioeconomic and politcal benefts are the consequences of relentless
efort and atenton from (a) efectve and honest governments; (b) a private sector
that is resolute to partner with governments all the way; (c) a public service that is
determined to embrace reforms and changes in its modus operandi; and (d) a civil
society that is willing to put country frst and bear the inevitability of short-term pains
for long-term future gains.
This should form the crux of our artcle of faith to guide our policies, if we are
to succeed, to make it from poverty to prosperity. With a new impetus, Africa has
an opportunity to embark on a new paradigm shif, as the contnent seeks hope in
the seemingly hopeless global economic and fnancial crisis, as the contnent swims
against the tde of imperatves of globalisaton, and as the natons of the world grapple
with one global crisis or the other, Africa must align herself with the rest of the world
in a collectve determinaton and policy drive to overcome the seemingly intractable
challenges. Make no mistake: the era of self-delusion is gone. Africa must acknowledge
her shortcomings, confront the challenges, and exploit the opportunites. This warrants
a departure from the past.
If the roots of Africas stunted development were series of poor policy decisions
at both natonal and regional levels, the soil in which those roots were planted was
an earth rotavated by corrupt leadership and bad governance. The choices African
governments and their leaders make have a huge bearing on the development of
strong cultural and economic security and the opportunites it provides for growth
and development of the contnent. Cultural and economic security is a dynamic
phenomenon. Success in the global economy does not require a miracle or an elixir:
it doesnt demand the world to provide special conditons to enable countries to
prosper, in the form of trade or aid preference. Countries that grow their economies
and develop fast are those whose leaders take sound and courageous decisions in
the natonal interest. Paradoxically, Africas greatest natural assets Africas youth,
Africas elite far from being the fount, source of talent, and driver of socioeconomic
development, are the contnents source of insecurity, instability, inept and corrupt
leadership and bad governance.
This Policy Brief has encapsulated the challenges ahead and the apparent
contradicton of Africas culture with economic development and growth. Remodelling
The fact
that Africa
is endowed
with natural
resources
should not
blight her vision
while other
contnents are
all pursuing
aggressive
natonalistc
and regional
policies of
economic
development
and growth.
CULTURE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY IN AFRICA: REMODELLING THE OPTIONS 13
Insttute for African Culture And Internatonal Understanding Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
the optons for cultural and economic security in Africa poses a rousing challenge
to extant orthodoxy on African development. The soluton to Africas development
is chiefy internal, and not the responsibility of development partners and donor
agencies. The tendency of African leaders and governments to externalise their
problems by playing the blame game is self-defeatng. The new tools of economic
development must be built on the foundaton of culture and economic security. Africa
risks being trapped in the quicksand of culture and economic insecurity, politcal
malaise, infrastructure defcit, ethnic rivalry and tension, extreme poverty, and high
unemployment unless it takes the bull by the horns now.
References
Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (2011). Cultural safety and security:
Tools to address lateral violence. Social Justce Report.
Bessarab, D. (2000). Working with Aboriginal families: A cultural approach. In Weeks,
W. (Ed.), Issues facing Australian families: Human services respond. Melbourne:
Longman Australia.
Block, F. (1977), The Ruling Class Does Not Rule, Socialist Register, May-June.
Bozeman, A. B. (1975). Civilizatons under stress. Virginia Quarterly Review, 51,
Winter.
Clegg, S. R. (1990), Modern Organizatons, (London: Sage).
Cofn, J. (2007). Rising to the Challenge in Aboriginal Health by Creatng Cultural
Security, Aboriginal & Islander Health Worker Journal, 31(3), 22-24.
Cofn, J. (2008). Rising to the challenge in Aboriginal health by creatng cultural
security. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal, 31(3), 22 - 24.
Crouch, C. (1979), The State, Capital and Liberal Democracy, In Colin Crouch (ed.),
State Economy and Contemporary Capitalism, (New York: St. Martns Press).
Dore, R. (1973). Britsh Factory, Japanese Factory, London: Allen and Unwin.
Drury, A. (2010). Reducing racism in Aboriginal health care in Australia: where does
cultural educaton ft in? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 34,
S87 - S92.
Hamilton, G. G. and Biggart, N. W. (1988), Market, Culture, and Authority: A
Comparatve Analysis of Management and Organisaton in the Far East, American
Journal of Sociology, Vol. 94, Supplement, pp. S52-94.
Herbert, W. E. (2011), State Capacity and the Politcs of Economic Reform in Nigeria:
Some Critcal Issues, Journal of Business and Financial Studies, Vol. 2(2), pp. 35-58.
Huntngton, S. P. (2002). The Clash of Civilisatons and the Remaking of Word Order.
London: Simon & Schuster UK Ltd.
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motvaton. Psychological Review, 50(4):
37096. Retrieved from htp://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Maslow/motvaton.htm
--------- (1954). Motvaton and Personality. (New York, NY: Harper). ISBN 0-06-041987-
3.
Nemeth, E. (2013). Working towards a defniton for Cultural Security. (Posted 27
March) under the blog: erik.nemeth@culturalsecurity.net
Sachs, J. (2005). The End of Poverty: How we can make it happen in our lifetme.
London: Penguin Books Ltd.
Sachs, J. (2011). The Price of Civilisaton: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity.
New York: Random House.
Szymanski, A. (1978). The Capitalist State and the Politcs of Class. Cambridge, Mass.:
Winthrop Publishers, Inc.
Africa risks
being trapped
in the quicksand
of culture
and economic
insecurity,
politcal
malaise,
infrastructure
defcit, ethnic
rivalry and
tension,
extreme
poverty,
and high
unemployment
unless it takes
the bull by the
horns now.
CULTURE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY IN AFRICA: REMODELLING THE OPTIONS
14
Insttute for African Culture And Internatonal Understanding Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
About the Insttute
The Insttute for African Culture and Internatonal Understanding, a UNESCO Category
2 Insttute of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun
State was approved by the Executve Board of UNESCO in October 2008 and formally
commissioned at its OOPL site on January 9, 2009 by Koichiro Matsuura, the immediate-
past Director-General of UNESCO. The Governing Board of the Centre chaired by HE
Dr. Christopher Kolade, was inaugurated on March 4, 2009.
Vision
The vision of the Insttute is to increase inter-cultural dialogue and internatonal
understanding between Africa and other civilisatons.
Mission
The mission of the insttute is to preserve Africas cultural heritage, promote and
strengthen renaissance in African cultures both at the regional and internatonal levels.
Aims of the Insttute
The insttute aims at:
raising awareness among stakeholders at the natonal, regional and internatonal
levels about the important role played by cultural diversity and its corollary,
intercultural dialogue, for social cohesion in pluralistc societes;
facilitatng the network of sister insttutons working in these felds and inducing
relevant academic and scientfc studies;
providing a platorm of genuine cooperaton for specialists in African culture;
providing capacity-building through the promoton of knowledge-sharing about
spiritual and other religious traditons and their underlying values in order to
strengthen harmonious coexistence; and
highlightng the values of diversity and dialogue by studying tangible and
intangible heritage as well as contemporary cultural expressions in the African
region and the Diaspora (through inventories and catalogues, including in
digitsed form, disseminatng and exhibitng collectons and other relevant
materials).
Governing Board of the Insttute
Chairman: His Excellency Dr. Christopher Kolade, CON
Members: H. E. Mrs Denise Houphouet-Boigny, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate,
Permanent Delegaton of Cote dIvoire to UNESCO. H.E. Mrs. Begum Taj, Ambassador/
Permanent Delegate, Permanent Delegaton of the United Republic of Tanzania
to UNESCO, H. E. Mr Alexandre da Conceicao Zandamela, Permanent Delegaton
of the Republic of Mozambique to UNESCO. Professor Hassana Alidou, (Director,
UNESCO Regional Multsectoral Ofce for West Africa in Abuja); Mr. George Ufot
(Representatve of the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism
and Natonal Orientaton), Magdalene Anene- Maidoh, Secretary-General, NATCOM-
UNESCO, Professor Peter A. Okebukola; Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Saad Abubakar
III, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe.
CULTURE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY IN AFRICA: REMODELLING THE OPTIONS 15
Insttute for African Culture And Internatonal Understanding Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
Secretariat
Professor Peter A. Okebukola (Director), Vitalis Ortese, Damian Oyibo, Oladiran
Olaniyi, Lovelyn Nwachuku, Ibukun Olagbemiro, Bayo Akintayo, Tunde Sobola, Femi
Jenrola Adebayo, Bimpe Akinkuotu, Chisom Eze and Aderonke Olubodun
Associate Experts
Professor Isaac Albert, Professor Juma Shabani, Professor Wilson Herbert, Ayo Tella,
Professor Gbenga Ogunmoyela, Professor Wole Ogundele, Dr. Anthony Onwumah.
Policy Brief Coordinator
Professor Isaac Albert (Associate Expert)
Contributor of Policy Brief No. 3
Professor Wilson E. Herbert (KSC)
Professor of Accountng & Financial Management, Bingham University, Km 26 Abuja-
Kef Expressway, New Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Email: weherbert12@gmail.com
Editor-in-Chief
Professor Peter A. Okebukola
Editorial Ofce
Insttute for African Culture and Internatonal Understanding
Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
Oke-mosan, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Tel: +2348022904423; +2348023400030
Website: www.iaciu-oopl.org
CULTURE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY IN AFRICA: REMODELLING THE OPTIONS
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Insttute for African Culture And Internatonal Understanding Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
About the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library, the frst of its kind in Africa, is located on an expansive 32-hectare
land in the historic town of Abeokuta, Nigeria. It has as mission: To foster understanding of the life, career and
Presidental administraton of Olusegun Obasanjo and through this expositon, promote the ideals of democracy,
good governance and leadership; facilitate critcal refecton on best practces in public service; and provide a
clearer comprehension of developments in Nigeria, Africa, the Commonwealth and the rest of the world. It has
as its focus the Presidental Library centre and museum, around which are built academic units with the core
mission of promotng human security in Africa, an internatonal conference centre, amusement, recreatonal and
accommodaton areas as well as other support facilites. It is designed to encourage patronage from internatonal
scholars, conference organisers, as well as atract global tourism. Besides enhancing the socio-economic life
of its immediate locaton, its presence represents a positve contributon towards the internatonal image of
Nigeria and of Africa and as an evergreen resource for inspiring the ideals of democracy and good governance.
Board of Trustees of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidental Library
Co-Chair: H.E. Dr. Christopher Kolade and Ambassador Carl Masters
Chief Promoter: His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR
Members: Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Professor Akinlawon Mabogunje, Chief Olatunde Abudu, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye,
Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Chief Obafemi Olopade, Chief (Mrs) Chinyere Asika.
Secretary: Vitalis Ortese
Insttute for African Culture and Internatonal Understanding, OOPL, Abeokuta