Category: Uncategorized

By: Anna Herman

It is no secret that Muslim societies are at the center of pressing issues around the world, especially in Western cultures. In The No-Nonsense Guide to Islam, Ziauddin Sardar and Merryl Wyn Davies explain the history that even when most Muslim countries gained their independence in 1950, the decades that were supposed to be filled with innovation were rather occupied with patterns of European colonial dominance. The political leaders emerged from Westernized elites, who still to this day suppress almost all forms of the religious traditions of Islam. Obviously, this sparked tension between the rulers and the citizens.

The “jihadi” movement in Afghanistan brought the Soviet Union down. Keep in mind that this was one of the largest and strongest countries at the time. This gave more militant elements in the reform movements and what power tasted like for the first time. This led to the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The authors emphasize that this a power in which the society had never had before, and it led to such a craving for it. Ultimately, it piloted the creation of the Taliban, in order to apply the ideal Islamic state. As we are aware, the Taliban is an enemy of the United States due to their open fighting and attacks on individuals and communities. However, the authors shed light that the modern and moderate elements in Muslim society experience just as much conflict with the Taliban as we do.

As I briefly mentioned before, the fundamentalist goal is to apply what they believe is the ideal Islamic state, and that is implementing sharia or Islamic law. Sardar and Davies explain how the rubric of the sharia is nearly opposite of the Qur’an. We have discussed how the Qur’an is the religious text that is widely used in practicing Islam today. It has little rules in it and focuses on the religion that is constructed of God and the virtues. However, the sharia rubric is mostly fiqh. Fiqh is classical jurisprudence that was created in the Abbasid time period, which incorporates the logic of Muslim imperialism from the 8^th and 9^th century. Therefore, rather than a guide to help one practice the religion, like the Qur’an is, the sharia leads to religious rebellion.

Another important factor of the sharia that I would like to mention is the one the puritan fundamentalist focus greatly on: the hudud laws. This is the part of the sharia that spotlights crime and punishment. Although these laws are only applicable in a perfect and just society, the fundamentalists use them as a justification for their violent actions. The idea that sharia is a “law” is even ironic in itself. When a law is implemented it is to protect by taking the moral evolution of humanity into full consideration.

I strongly disagree that Islamic law has always been consumed with “punishment.” Technically, someone could argue that it is when taken literally. I would like you to think of this from a different perspective. In the Bible, God deems that it is okay to sacrifice animals and occasionally people for him. If we recall, God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Although God commands him to stop at the last second, he was suggesting violence and punishment. Even in the 10 commandments, God says if you disobey those then you have sinned and will be punished. That is the entire reason that people go to confession, is to be free from their sins.

Now, a Christian could argue that the story was not to be taken literally, but when a Muslim does it then it becomes problematic. The Bible and the sharia were written hundreds of years ago, and I believe do not hold literal meaning. Although there is a section of the sharia that focuses on crime and punishment, we can see striking similarities present in the Christian text, as well. By giving this example, it takes away the focus of this question being one of the Islamic religion but one of any religious text, even one that is extremely popular in the West.

Musawah is a global movement that is focused on equality and justice in Muslim communities. It has a vision of a world where the basis of all human relations is filled with equality, non-discrimination, justice and dignity. Although this seems nearly impossible, the organization believes that it is extremely achievable, as it works for progress in human rights for Muslim women. The organization as an extremely fitting name as musawah translates to ‘equality’ in Arabic.

Some of their key messages to accomplish their goals is sharing knowledge, connecting people and engaging internationally. They explain that with a holistic approach, it builds and shares knowledge that supports equality in the Muslim family. Secondly, they believe that by connecting people there is an abundant amount of support. Finally, they support human right mechanisms to achieve equality and justice in the family.

I think this organization is a great tool for Muslim woman, as it openly opposes the sharia laws. Despite the fact that we discussed how they are not as widely used as the Qur’an and often radicalized; they still have presence today. By providing a resource to women, just as any other religion it can only benefit them rather than hurt.

Additional Sources

Sardar, Ziauddin. Davies, Merryl. The No-Nonsense Guide to Islam. Chapter 8: Contemporary Issues. Text.

By: Anna Herman

1. How do Zemni and Parker (ch.13) explain the “failure of integration” of Muslims in Europe? Why is the way Europeans think about integration and multiculturalism problematic in the discourse surrounding Islam and Muslims in Europe? Explain and give examples.

In the text Islam, Europe’s Second Religion, Zemni and Parker discuss the how the EU’s integration and expansion has dedicated a significant amount of effort to create the collective European identity and culture. This set of values is based off of the European national cultures, which include democracy, tolerance, acceptance for human rights, and more. This means that in order for someone to be European, it is necessary that they practice that set of values. Ultimately this translates to “multicultural Europe” being extremely exclusive with the ideological framework it is based on, and has become extremely problematic for anyone who does not fit in that bubble.

With this being said, Zemni and Parker explain the “failure of integration” of Muslims in Europe as yet another arena in which the biased concept of multiculturalism in Europe has created failure of migrants/immigrants of non-European origin to be able to assimilate into host societies, specifically Muslims. This has been present in two impartial demographic movements. First, the migration of laborers and their families from third-world countries to satisfy low paying jobs in Europe’s economy between 1950-1970. This ended in the 1970’s because of economic declines that led most European states to halt immigration. Secondly, the trend of individuals and their families fleeing conflict, political, and financial insecurity after the end of the Cold War. Most of these people fled to Western Europe.

Both of these movements sparked the challenge posed by the seeming incapability of immigrant groups (again mostly Muslims) to “get ahead” in European context. Ultimately, this failure of integration is defined as the failure to adopt the styles and practices that individuals are expected to accept and embrace themselves, despite it simply being the norm of hegemonic cultures.

This relates closely to not just European Muslims, but Muslims that live in the United States experiencing the same expectations. As we discussed last week, if this marginalized group does not fit into the ideals that are societal norms, they are viewed as not belonging. This is prevalent in women wearing a veil, as they are assumed to be terrorist or forced to wear it by men, when in fact it is simply an image of their religion. All of these stereotypes that are prevalent in the United States and EU are from narrow-minded, nationalistic understandings. Merriam-Webster defines the term multicultural as “relating to, reflecting, or adapted to diverse culture. Therefore, by definition the multicultural integration in the West completely loses its meaning.

2. What is your assessment of the Foreign Policy The Dispossessed article and the film My Escape? Does the comic do justice to the refugee situation? Is it a good analysis of the crisis? Does Islam play a role? Even if you only watched a part of the film My Escape what is your assessment of the film? What caught your attention?

The Dispossessed article portrayed a realistic picture for me of the various reasons that refugees and migrants are leaving their homes. Whether it be due to political wars, geographical changes, or poor economies, it shows the actuality of people’s lives that is in the middle of the political climate today. We hear about immigrants 24/7 through the media, but Alia Malek and Josh Neufeld depict the stories of real people behind the topics that are so closely debated today. It allows a personal and intimate understanding of what refugees are truly going through and informs people of the consequences of the harsh immigration laws they are debating, attempting to, and have implemented. I believe the comic accurately shows the privilege that citizens in the Western countries have as it therefore leads to ignorance towards refugees.

The film My Escape had multiple scenes where it showed refugees terrified as they fled their home countries. Although they did not know what difficulties may lie before them, they wanted to survive. The hardships in the stories that were shared, further confirmed how much privilege I had as a natural born citizen of the United States. Although I am extremely passionate and strongly support immigration, I was unaware of the realities that these people faced to simply stay alive. Bottom line is in both the article and My Escape, refugees are fleeing for a better life and are in immediate danger.

I believe this is especially important today, as the current president has shutdown the government in order to have enough funding to build a wall between the United States and Mexico. Consequently, President Trump has hopes that this physical wall will keep immigrants out. After viewing the documents and video, it displays the insensitivity that the country is having towards those who need our help the most. I genuinely feel that if the president and other government officials would truly empathize with these people, they would have a completely different viewpoint.

Additional Sources

 Alia Malek & Josh Neufeld “The Dispossessed” (Foreign Affairs)

Hunter, Shireen. Chapter 13. Sami Zemni, and Christopher Parker. Islam, the European Union, and the Challenge of Multiculturalism.

Sasse, Elke. My Escape. Film.

By: Anna Herman

The Muslim presence in France was not always a hot-topic issue. According to the Pew Research Center, Muslims today only make up around 5 percent of the population in Europe. However, in countries like France, Germany and Sweden the Muslim population is rapidly growing and appears as if it is nowhere near stopping. The center reported that in 2016 there was around 5.7 million Muslims in France, which makes up 8.8 percent of the country’s population. From 2010 through 2016 Muslims in Europe increased from 3.8 to 39 percent. Although this may sound minuscule, that is increasing the population from 19.5 to 25.8 million individuals.

The LA Times article explains how many of these Muslims trace their roots back to Algeria and Tunisia, both countries are former French colonies. Many of the individuals today had grandparents migrating to help rebuild France after World War II. Then Algeria spend years fighting for its independence from the French. Although this was many years ago, these events impact Muslims today in France. The article explains how European Muslims are condensed in suburbs known as banlieues, that are usually little more than a cement jungle of decrepit high-rises. Although they reside in France, this shows the disparities that European citizens may experience based on the religion, especially one like Islam that has such a rich history.

In recent elections, Muslim immigration has been top issues and that is largely due to these increasing numbers of those in the population. Although a lot of this increase has been due to immigration in Europe, the increase of the Islam community in the future is attributed to the noticeably difference in age of Muslims than other Europeans. Pew Research Center explains that 50 percent of all European Muslims are under the age of 30, which is prime childbearing age. Moreover, the Muslim woman residing in Europe is expected to have 1 more child than a woman who does not identify as a Muslim. These intersecting factors suggest the inevitability for the expansion of this community in Europe, particularly in France.

Laïcité is a term that is very puzzling for those who do not reside in France to fully understand. In this New Republic article, it defines laïcité as France’s principle of secularism in public affairs, aimed at fostering a post-religious society. It originated during the French Revolution when France was seeking separation from the church and state. Ultimately this unique term refers to the freedom of citizens and of public institutions from the influence of organized religion. When laïcité originated it was aimed at separation from the Catholic Church, the Islam religion now conflicting with this concept in France. In 2004 France passed a law that banned religious symbols and clothing in public schools, this further marginalized Muslims as they opted for Muslim schools. This further separated them from the community.

Like I mentioned before, Muslim immigration is a controversial issue, and the presence of Muslims in France has become a political ideology. This Prospect Magazine article suggests that laïcité is a cornerstone of republican values. Similarly, it also reports that the far right is the key factor to upholding these laws that many feels is discriminatory and old-fashioned. With the increase of Muslims presence in the country, it will only create more disparity and separation among the citizens residing there.

No matter where it is in the world, there has been a long history of controversy over women wearing veils, especially in Western culture. There are many stereotypes that I have heard throughout the years that are filled with false information. Some of these include men forcing women wear these scarves and it makes a women look less American. These accusations could be further from the truth. Muslim women choose to wear a veil or headscarf as a symbol of their religion. This Institute of Islamic Information and Education article even poses the idea that wearing a headscarf may be the “truest test” of one’s religion. As we discussed last week the Islam religion is based on a text, The Qur’an. This is similar to the Bible in the Christian religion that offers guidance and rules. One of the principles is for women to have modest coverings. That is where this headscarf originates from that is a distinctive part of the Islam religion.

Although a hijab is an individual’s choice like wearing a cross, it is seen as a threat to Western culture. United Nations University explains that this is largely due to the tendency to pair terrorist attacks with Islam. These attacks that are often labeled as acts originating from the Islam religion include the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979 and the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Obviously when a woman is wearing a hijab, it brings back to life a long-standing superficial security threat to Western soil among America. Additionally, it collides with societal norms in Western culture. These women do not look the same as many others, which causes citizens to question how can they be European or American? This is largely due to the media perpetuating Muslims as having one and only one identity, rather than including their nationality too. This ignorance not only discriminates individuals but has real-life consequences that have and can result in violence

By: Anna Herman

What are some of the myths about Muslims in Europe that Justin Vaisse discusses?

The first myth Vaisse sheds light on is the belief that being Muslim constitutes a fixed identity, and it is one that is strong enough to fully characterize a person. He illustrates that this is present by discussing newspaper article from the Washington Post that uses the term “Muslim” to describe individuals migrating West. These writers of the article neglect the individuals’ gender, race, social class and other principles that make up their being. Vaisse also cites the widely used phrase in the media during the riots in France as “Muslim riots in France” when in fact they had nothing to do with the Islam religion. This is expanding the false stereotypes of the religion that are embedded in society.

The second myth is that Muslims in Europe are inherently foreign, in one way or another. This is the equivalent of visiting Middle easterners who are alien to the “native” culture. Despite the popular opinion, European culture has included Muslim elements from as early as the 8^th century. Furthermore, there is between 15 and 17 million Muslims in EU-27 countries. This is not a small amount and many individuals are born in Europe rather than abroad. Europe is their home, just like I call the United States home, despite the history of my religion.

The third myth is that Muslims in Europe form a “distinct, cohesive and bitter group.” Vaisse explains how Muslims are the extreme opposite of what the 2005 Foreign Affairs article labels them as. He explains how Muslims in Europe and a national level are anything but a cohesive group. This is because of the divisions between countries, social statuses, ethnicity, and political views. To label them as one community without variety is extremely misleading to people.

The fourth and final myth Vaisse addresses is that Muslims are demographically gaining on the “native” population. What lies behind this myth is the assumption that Muslims form a distinct demographic bloc defined by religion and that is incapable of being a part of society. When in reality, there is significant amounts of intermarriage and conversions. Muslims are mostly lay-abiding citizens and are extremely patriotic to where they live. Since EU immigration is extremely regulated, Muslims will never make up more than 6 percent of the population in the approaching decades.

Why is it important to make a distinction between the religious and political dimensions of Islam?

It is extremely important to make a distinction between religious and political in everyday life, and it is even more important to define these terms when discussing the dimensions of Islam. Because this religion has misconceptions, by defining these differences it allows us to understand the religion more thoroughly. In Shireen Hunter’s book, Islam, Europe’s Second Religion, she discusses that the political and religious dimensions of Islam that are based on two very different approaches.

Muslims worship directly from The Quran. Although individuals are unified through this central text, the politics can and will differ among the members. This greatly depends on the society that they are engulfed in and the sociocultural norms and expectations. When practicing politics, Muslims turn to the Quran to find out what is against their principles, similar to individuals turning to the Bible. It is not the absolute decision making piece for them, it is rather a guidance. Therefore, “Islam” does not have a certain appearance. Just like many other religions, there is diversity within the individuals even though they are connected through the teachings.

What kind of challenges do education and social rifts in Europe bring to Muslim communities of Europe? What does Ramadan suggest Muslims should do in face of such challenges? Ch 11

Hunter addresses the challenges that education and social rifts that members of the Muslim community in Europe face. Since education is evolving, expectations of both teachers, parents, and students are changing. With social media and other factors, students socialize while learning information academically. Their education causes them to socialize. Although children are learning in the classroom, they are not learning how to adapt to diversity that is present in many cultures. This limit in their education has serious consequences. Since students are never taught the truth about racism, it can further perpetuate it. The author discusses that violence and insecurity are increasing in Europe. A lot of this violence is directed at Muslim immigrants, which brings to light xenophobia. Xenophobia is a term that Merriam-Webster defines as a  “fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners.”

Hunter addresses the challenges that education and social rifts that members of the Muslim community in Europe face. Since education is evolving, expectations of both teachers, parents, and students are changing. With social media and other factors, students socialize while learning information academically. Their education causes them to socialize. Although children are learning in the classroom, they are not learning how to adapt to diversity that is present in many cultures. This limit in their education has serious consequences. Since students are never taught the truth about racism, it can further perpetuate it. The author discusses that violence and insecurity are increasing in Europe. A lot of this violence is directed at Muslim immigrants, which brings to light xenophobia. Xenophobia is a term that Merriam-Webster defines as a  “fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners.”

By learning what is taught in basic subjects, it is limiting kids at the very least to form their own opinions and keep their mind open to other ideas. If children in Europe would be exposed to a more well-rounded approach to learning, it would create the future generation to be more prepared for the evolving world we live in and decrease the level of hatred for others who are different than yourself

In Chapter 11, Tariq Ramadan suggests that Europeans fight these injustices that are due to racism, stick with their religion teachings, and attempt to create dialogue among one another. These injustices he mentions includes fighting discrimination in employment and intervening against violence in the community. One of the challenges that Muslims will face is co-existing when they are receiving immense amounts of hate and violence directed towards them. By practicing the values of this peaceful religion, it will help individuals get through rough times. Finally, by creating a conversation about the reality of this religion, it will destroy the myths that are perpetuated in the media and throughout cultures.

Additional Sources

Hunter, Shireen T. Islam, Europe’s Second Religion: the New Social, Cultural, and Political Landscape. Praeger, 2002.

Vaisse, Justin. “Muslims in Europe: A Short Introduction,” Islam in Europe.

By: Anna Herman

Since the beginning of the semester, we have talked about poverty and the different layers that construct this issue. This includes the varying arguments on the best way to reduce and ultimately end poverty and what poverty actually looks like in third world countries. I have examined and analyzed what has led to extreme poverty in my assigned country, Angola. From this, I have developed certain viewpoints on what can lead and possibly reduce this epidemic. In Chapter 10 of Poor Economics, Banerjee and Duflo display both the positives and negatives of development aid with economists who have studied poverty on an intimate and prestigious level: Jeffrey Sachs and William Easterly. Jeffrey Sachs supports development aid and William Easterly is against the idea of it. Both sides have valid arguments, which helped me construct my opinion further on this complex issue.

Although I have been reading about extreme poverty for the past few weeks, I will never be able to fully understand it. This is because I am a middle-class white female from St. Louis, Missouri. No matter how much material I read or discuss I will never be able to fully understand what these economists or the authors talk about and have seen. I have not witnessed it firsthand, let alone lived it or anything relatively close to it.

Jeffrey Sachs believes development aid is a key tool for economic progress in underdeveloped countries. He argues that this tool does not stand alone and works wonders when it is combined with good governance, transparency, and effective policies administered in these countries. He uses public health for having the greatest success when aid is given to them, specifically with Malaria. As I have discussed before, malaria is disease that is present in many African countries and leads to deaths of tons of citizens. With development aid, it has been able to be under control more than before. He argues that this would simply not be attainable without development aid given. Sachs recognized that there are poorly designed programs that give financial assistance, but it can be fixed by implementing programs with clear goals and sound operating principles.

William Easterly’s major concerns with providing aid is feedback and accountability. He discusses how both these elements are imperative for development aid to work. Furthermore, if they are not there this idea will fail and is proven because it has failed in the past. By agencies not being held accountable for these factors and focusing on broad goals such as reducing disease, he discusses how it progress will not be able to be made with development aid. Moreover, impoverished countries have had a history of corrupt governments controlling where foreign aid is distributed. Easterly argues that this money often has political motives behind it and there are more innovative ways to solve big issues such as health care and education.

From hearing both sides of the issues, I agree with Jeffrey Sachs for a variety of reasons. Development aid gives these countries a starting point to move forward that would otherwise simply be unattainable. Without it, where do countries realistically begin to make process to achieve goals? I do recognize potential and realistic issues with development aid, but I think that is miniscule compared to the benefits that it has. If people are under such corrupt governments, they will not have the freedom to make effective reforms on their own. It further calls for the need of development aid, in my opinion. In the Brookings article, it discusses how even though there still is many corrupt governments, the past two decades has seen the most dramatic decline in global poverty.  I am not dismissing the fact that there are programs that may not hold individuals to the utmost responsibility. However, I think with programs that are thoroughly constructed, aid has been life-changing. Look at Sachs use of it saving lives with helping diminish malaria, although it is not perfect it is progress that helps lessen poverty.

Banerjee and Duflo sufficiently address the first two sustainable development goals: end poverty in all forms everywhere and end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition. As I mentioned before we have read about the factors that are apart of extreme poverty. The authors discuss how there is a need for proper policies and governance to capitalize on the country’s resources and proper distribution of them. Also, they assert the need for basic healthcare in order for these communities to thrive. This includes the need for clean water and protection from diseases like malaria. Furthermore, they discuss how small loans known as micro-credits have given individuals an opportunity to start their business that would otherwise be nonexistent. In Angola, it has allowed farmers and fishermen to expand their business. They are able to export their products, consequently leading to structural economic expansion. On an individual level, this income has led to more mouths being fed. Although there is strides being made with innovations in underdeveloped countries, there is still struggles that individuals face by not receiving adequate healthcare. This is largely due to the economic struggle of simply not being able to pay for a vaccine. However, by reducing poverty and hunger with better leaders in the government and micro-credits, it provides a backbone for these goals to continue to be closer to being met in the future.

Additional Sources

“Chapter 8, 9, 10” Poor Economics: Rethinking Poverty and the Ways to End It, by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo, Random House India, 2013, pp. 183-234.

By: Anna Herman

In Poor Economics, Banerjee and Duflo, make several arguments both for and against micro-credits. Micro-credits are defined as financial services that are targeted for low-income people. They provide these people credit, savings, insurance, and money transfers.

Banerjee and Duflo support using micro-credits and the positive results when they are used correctly. These are virtually extremely small loans, and the authors argue that they give the people who receive them the framework for managing financials. This includes basic habits, such as spending and saving money correctly. By having people understand these fundamental skills to successfully manage their financials over time, it could potentially lead to a debt-free future on a micro level. Moreover, Banerjee and Duflo also seem to understand the idea for human need. Since these individuals are extremely poor, even small loans could improve the quality of life greatly for them.

However, Banerjee and Duflo recognize that no matter how beneficial they may be individually, they will certainly not eradicate poverty. The authors state that these micro-credits are certainly not the solution to large poverty issues. Consequently, they make several arguments against using micro-credits. Although these loans have the potential to be positive tools to manage money properly, there is going to be people who receive the money and spend it immediately, Since these poor people have never had money, they could be and probably will be impatient. This point could be an negative consequence of using micro-credits. Furthermore, poor people may not see the point of saving and would rather use these loans for everyday needs. This completely eliminates the possibility of micro-credits creating a positive future and ultimately difference on the macro level. Since these loans are small, they very well might not be nearly enough for an individual to start a small business. Without having enough right away, it poses the question of how likely do you think poor people will be inclined to save more and if so, how will they raise the rest of the funds?

Although it is a complex issue, Angola does use micro-credits. Since most of the economy relies natural resources (petroleum and diamond) to create profit, initially you would think citizens the ideal contenders for micro-credits. This is because micro-credits are heavily aimed at allowing small business owners to create a business and if there is not a lot of business opportunities other than oil and diamonds, what is the point? However, I have discussed in previous blog posts how a majority of the population lives in areas where they depend heavily on agriculture and fishing. In the Southern African Development Community documents, the authors discuss how the banks have provided micro-credits to those in the agriculture and fishing sectors. Although these areas are not the main source of income for the country, by providing micro-credits to smaller sectors of the market it allows for expansion. I agree with the limits on who they are providing them to, because if it is not regulated about who it is being given to, individuals could take advantage of the loans and put themselves in a worse economic state.

These micro-credits have not only given farmers and fishermen tools to improve their business, they have allowed them the opportunity to export these products. This was simply not feasible before these loans were available. Since Angola deeply relies on exports for their income, it will be interesting to see what area of the market the economy is more profitable in the next few years.

However, the Brookings Article largely critiques Angola, as it labels it a severely off-track country. Geoffrey Gertz and Homi Kharas discuss that the SOTC are defined by the country’s ability to ensure that its population can escape extreme poverty over the medium term. I agree with the authors that maybe not within the next term Angola will be able to do this, but I believe with the progress it has made since escaping the Civil War, there is a lot more to improvements that we will see in the economy.

Digital technology is making a difference in poor countries, but it is limited. According to Technology In Organization, digital technology includes all types of electronic equipment and applications that use the information in the form of numeric code . Therefore, digital technology includes the creation and use of computerized devices.  Some Africans now have access to these devices such as phones, which results in them being connected to the rest of the world through social media. The Guardian article, discusses African citizens who use digital technology, and one of the most important points is that social media allows them to expand their businesses. However, I think the distribution of technology in Africa is the problematic part. If everyone or a majority of individuals in your area do not have it, then what is the point of it?

I agree with Nick Dearden’s article that we hear the stereotypes and reinforce assumptions that Africa is poor, but we are the ones limiting them by the western governments forcing African government to open up their markets to unfair competition. However, I do think the corruption in leadership in African countries has also limited Africa, and that is not necessarily anyone’s fault. Africa has several natural resources that can be exported, and if we help Africa export them efficiently, it could be extremely beneficial to the state of their economy.

Additional Sources

“Chapter 8 and 9” Poor Economics: Rethinking Poverty and the Ways to End It, by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo, Random House India, 2013, pp. 183-234.

By: Anna Herman

Can you imagine becoming the leader of a country and still not having enough control to start taking steps to make a change? In the Council on Foreign Relations article, it discusses how Angola’s newest leader, President João Lourenço, did not assume control of the ruling party, MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) until a year after he was elected. But he is already emerging as a “cheetah” due to his plans to implement systems of accountability and reduce poverty. We read last week about how Radelet explains that ‘cheetahs’ are trying to redefine Africa. Ever since running for office, President João Lourenço has led an anti-corruption campaign, aimed for economic reforms in the oil industry, and expected to further utilize other natural resources that have been ignored for years.

The All Africa article explains how Lourenço has taken more steps to see change. He has effectively removed traces of the previous president, José Eduardo dos Santos, in his cabinet. This includes his children from their positions at the sovereign-wealth fund and Sonangol. Furthermore, it discusses how he has continued to administer accountability, since he has made arrests to high-ranking officials that were connected to dos Santos and heavily involved in his corrupt administration that lasted 38 years. The former president’s son, José Filomen dos Santos, was included among the series of arrests made since 2017.

The Africa Report explains how President Lourenço is focused on improving the economy and consequently reducing poverty. He is making strides to do this by meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that predicts Angola’s GDP growing 2.2 percent this year and even more the following year. With the help of IMF, Lourenço is hoping to increase transparency in the government with the reformed agenda. Finally, the cheetah is looking to relaunch fishing and agriculture markets and by using those resources to open the country to foreign investment. The previous administration was strongly against this idea and only wanted private investors. However, Lourenço believes this will help distribute income to those who have been deprived due to the events in the past like the Civil War. Although this is progress for the country, Angola still has a significantly long way to go.

In Emerging Africa – How 17 Countries Are Leading the Way, Radelet explains how both strong political and economic controls allowed leaders to be in control for long periods of time, even decades. This is precisely what happened with Angola and President dos Santos. The Encyclopedia Britannica article discusses that after Angola gained its independence from Portugal, dos Santos held power from 1979 to 2017. As a result, there was little opportunity for change, let alone spreading democracy. Democracy is defined by “protecting fundamental political freedoms and civil liberties, or in establishing key institutions such as free and fair elections, representative government, and check on constitutional power”, according to Radelet. This chapter argues that the variety of elements that make up this definition are all imperative to construct a democracy. By having these factors, it allows individuals to easily analyze and compare the levels of democracy in the different countries in Africa.

In Chapter 3 of Poor Economics, the authors discuss a variety of effective health investments. The idea behind these investments is to improve health and as a result people’s lives. The authors discuss cheap and easy preventative healthcare measures. They refer to them as low hanging fruit. They include bed nets in countries where a large fraction of the population is exposed to Malaria. This includes countries like Zambia, where over 50 percent of the population is exposed to this disease. However, there are critics that are skeptical of the idea that these infested countries have such high poverty rates due to Malaria. The chapter touches on Sachs idea that maybe they have not been successful in eradicating Malaria due to poor governing rather than innovation.

However, numerous studies have been performed analyzing successful campaigns to eradicate Malaria. Researchers did find that life outcomes of children born after the campaign catch up with children born where there are low incidences of Malaria. This suggest that there is a reduction in long-term poverty due to bed nets.

Another example of an effective health investment that the authors discuss is clean water and sanitation. In 2008, UNICEF and WHO estimated that 13 percent of the world’s population lacked access to improved water sources and one fourth of that did not have any water at all that was safe to drink. By having the opportunity to have piped water and basic sanitation needs that we take for granted such as a toilet, it allows both children and adults to lead healthier and more productive lives. Although this is a more expensive option, it is an option that was not available before.

Obviously, increasing healthcare is the backbone of these investments, and the authors suggest cheaper ways to avert health issues. To get rid of diarrhea, they recommend adding chlorine to water. Other suggestions include deworming drugs, immunization, exclusive-breastfeeding for six months, and more. By just having the existence of these technologies it can save lives that used to be taken from these everyday. Hopefully by addressing these social issues, it can ultimately implement a cultural change.

More Sources

“Chapter 3, 4, and 6” Poor Economics: Rethinking Poverty and the Ways to End It, by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo, Random House India, 2013, pp. 1–40.

Radelet, Steven. Emerging Africa- How 17 Countries are Leading the Way. Foreword. Chapter 3.