Africa, Theoretical Contradictions and Development Problematiques– The Tyranny of Received Paradigm

Abstract

We have always been inundated with the goodies of free trade and
free market which is the dynamics of the comparative advantage. This
we have studied to arrive at the fact that, this so-called theory has
made us junior partners in the international division of labour. It
resulted in the Africans hooked to chattel slavery and later we became
providers of raw materials, a dynamics which created poverty in
England when she was a raw material exporter. This shows that the
poverty in Africa is because we are just raw material exporters hence
we cannot really create wealth and employment. When England
discovered this she placed a blanket ban on raw material exports and
she revived. The Americans had to fight the war of independence and
a very prolonged war against liberal theories of free trade hence she is
great today. But the African swallowed these theories hook-line-andsinker
hence we are poor. Africans must jettison these theories if she
wants to survive and become a continent to reckon with. She has the
potentials, as she produces about 60% of global exported raw
materials today and she remains the poorest continent. This is a
contradiction which must be overcome for Africa to lead the world.
This can only be done if these exports of raw materials can be
processed for exports as finished goods to create prosperity in the
continent.