external influence in the making of development ... - FES Ethiopia

Given that Ethiopia's underdevelopment has been persistent and that the country faces
crisis situation from time to time, there is a need for major reform and demand for
capable leaders that respond in a prompt and coherent manner. Leaders that look
internally, dialogue with civil society groups and seek local solutions. There is nothing
wrong, however, in borrowing ideas about policies and institutions from other countries
around the world. East Asian countries are the most recent examples in adapting the
lessons of the successful economies in the developed world. However, a country's
economic, social and political fabric is of decisive importance for a country's success in
developing itself. Development should be rooted in local traditions, culture and history.
With respect to integration with the outside world, especially through trade and
investment, the weak initial position of the developing countries in general and Ethiopia
in particular needs to be appreciated and addressed. Ethiopia and other developing
countries should attempt to exploit and develop bargaining positions from the beginning.
In this respect, protection of the environment, genetic resources and the value accorded to
primary products, etc. are areas the developing world should collectively bargain with.
It is also important that rules and standards are genuinely negotiated rather than imposed
by the powerful countries. In this respect, each poor country should strive to protect its
interests and should not be complacent. A careful analysis of current global trade
arrangement calls for ending false promises by the DCs about helping the poor and
pressurizing them to open their markets.
Ethiopia should also protect itself against capital and skilled labour flight without
abandoning equity considerations by pursuing prudent macroeconomic policies, investing
in education and training, promoting industrial flexibility and innovation, and other
measures which keep the economy internationally competitive. By promoting an allinclusive
policy, the country should strive to initiate development dynamism from within
that is based on local history, traditions, assets and cultures of the people.
On the other hand, the fact that some countries have made considerably greater progress
than others, even though they all operate in the same world economic environment
indicates that there is some lesson to be drawn from similarly less developed countries.
There are also globally accepted basic necessities for a country to embark on sustainable
development. These include the promotion of good governance, peace and stability,
popular participation, equity, rule of law, human right and transparent and inclusive
policy and development process. Ethiopia should strive to make considerable progress
in these respects in order to ensure other efforts bear fruit on sustainable basis.
In conclusion, a given country has to be in charge of its development fate and resolve its
own problems. It should not wait to for the actions and decisions of citizens or
governments of other countries to solve its problems. Long lasting solutions to our
problems would only come from own decisions and actions rather than from outside. In
this respect the less developed countries and/or Sub-Sahara Africa in particular should
establish strive to establish their own parallel International Trade Organization that deals
actively with the WTO. The UN should have the responsibility to support such initiative.
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