The best way we can help Africa is to leave it alone

The best way we can help Africa is to leave it alone

04 Mar 2004

The panel debate the motion: The best way we can help Africa is to leave it alone. Chaired by Nik Gowing.

Arguing in favour of the motion are Richard Dowden, Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem and Mathew Parris.

Richard Dowden states that Western engagement in Africa, regardless of its intentions, has been disastrous. He declares that the aid industry simply hasn't worked and that the aid relationship has always been poisonous, and believes that the process for remittances needs to be changed.

Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem bases his conclusions on a lifetime of activism on the negative impacts of aid, which, in his view, breeds dependency and forces leaders to act as if they're not even in Africa. He thinks there must be a kind of engagement that respects African people.

Matthew Parris begins by saying he is not against the giving of aid on principle, noting that there are strong cases for each aid organisation in different situations. He believes that aid can work, but that it is not working in Africa.

Arguing against the motion are Clare Short MP, Sir Marrack Goulding and Anthony Sampson.

Clare Short points out that Africans are enormously poor and getting poorer. She uses the example of civil war in Sierra Leone, and asks whether people would want the UN and the West to ignore their plight? She believes it's also in our own self-interest to respect Africa and find a partnership that will speed progress.

Sir Marrack Goulding opposes the motion for three main reasons: guilt, ethics and self-interest. He outlines some of the ways in which support can be given, including higher education links between the West and Africa and conflict resolution.

Anthony Sampson asks what people actually mean when they say 'leave Africa alone'. He talks about our colonial history, and traces the origins of current corrupt African leaders to our authoritarian colonial system. He says that the idea of a hopeless continent is a terrible notion, and this concept of hopelessness has been the biggest obstacle of all.

First Vote: 169 For, 271 Against, 283 Don't Know

Final Vote: 268 For, 359 Against, 56 Don't Know

The motion is defeated by 93 votes

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