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| Islam can Make Poverty History |
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By Farooq Khan
farooq.khan@newcivilisation.com
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This year the British government, together with charity organisations and faith groups, declared its aim to 'Make Poverty History' as Britain takes up the chairmanship of the G8, and presidency of the European Union. However solutions rooted within a capitalist framework will continue to fail as they have for the last fifty years. To fundamentally solve the issue of poverty in Africa alternative ideological paradigms are now urgently required.
This year the British government together with charity organisations and faith groups declared their goal to 'Make Poverty History' as Britain takes up the chairmanship of the G8, and presidency of the European Union. In March 2005 Tony Blair's Commission for Africa published its strategy to solve poverty in Africa. Blair described Africa as a 'scar' on the world's conscience and Gordon Brown said: "I believe that this year - already a testing time for the international community - is a year of great challenge but also a year of great opportunity and, potentially, a year of destiny: for I believe that in this year we - the international community - can agree a plan for a new deal between developed and developing countries as bold and as generous as the Marshall Plan of the 1940s." Nelson Mandela envisions the British plan taking its place: "as a public movement alongside the movement to abolish slavery and the international solidarity against apartheid." This vigorous effort to solve world poverty comes at a time when increased interdependency between nations has meant that the developed world is increasingly affected by problems in the developing world as a consequence of growing conflict, international crime, terrorism, the illicit drugs trade, the spread of health pandemics like HIV/AIDS, environmental degradation caused by shifts of population, and increased migration to the developed world. Examples as these prove the need to solve problems in a global context.
A white paper published in 2000 by the British government describes the challenges facing the world at this historic juncture: "Globalisation brings with it rapid change", and, "Managed wisely, the new wealth created by globalisation creates the opportunity to lift millions out of poverty. Managed badly, it could lead to further marginalisation and impoverishment…If democrats and internationalists do not address these concerns then those who advocate nationalism, xenophobia, protectionism and the dismantling of multilateral institutions will gain in strength and influence with disastrous consequences for us all." However we need to ask ourselves whether capitalism can really make poverty history when it has failed to elevate the developing world for decades despite billions in financial aid? Can globalisation shaped by capitalism really lift millions out of poverty when the gulf between rich and poor in even the developed world is increasing? Such questions must be explored in the discussion of how the Islamic economic system could alleviate poverty while the capitalist ideology merely exacerbates it and produces further injustice.
Political Causes of Poverty
The drive to end poverty in Africa needs to be viewed in a political context since the situation of the developing world is largely a product of centuries of western colonialism, and all policies are conceived to further the imperial interests of the leading powers. Colonialism and imperialism is integral to capitalism, which is evident in how Europe colonised Africa, and how the United States in the aftermath of World War II began to challenge Europe's great powers for world influence and leadership. President Harry Truman in his inaugural address of 1949 announced a new era for economic growth and prosperity for the entire world, and introduced the idea of 'development' to mark America's new position and hegemonic ambition in the world when he said: "We must embark on a bold new programme for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas." This speech set the parameters for a new style of imperialism as the leading western powers created international institutions to guarantee their influence in the world through the creation of the IMF, the World Bank, G7 and G8, the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations. Through these institutions the western powers establish their leadership over international politics and the global economy. The liberal US think tank, the Brookings Institute, said in one of its studies: "The United States has viewed all multilateral organisations including the World Bank, as instruments of foreign policy to be used in support of specific US aims and objectives…US views regarding how the world economy should be organised, how resources should be allocated and how investment decisions should be reached were enshrined in the Charter and the operational policies of the bank."
The developing world is merely another market for western goods. Mark Curtis wrote: "The barriers to Northern commercial penetration of the Third World are virtually negligible now as under colonialism, as Third World economic policies (through SAPs), their trading environment (through the WTO) and investment regulations (through the proposed Multilateral agreement on Investment) are brought under de facto control of the North and its elite Southern allies. While Northern countries preach so-called free trade, Northern trade protectionism costs developing countries around $500 billion a year in lost income."
Therefore it must be understood that development economics is designed to subjugate the developing world. However, the motive behind solving the problems that globalisation has precipitated in Africa has another aspect, which could have dire consequences for Western Europe. President Chirac highlighted this in his speech at the World Economic Forum: "The youth of Africa, Asia, and Latin America is rightly demanding its entitlement to a future. These populations will put their energy and talent at the service of the future, if they are given the means to do so. If this prospect is denied them, however, then let us beware of the risk of revolt…the fight for development is a fight for the future of globalisation. This fight is also your fight. It is in your interest as economic leaders. It is your responsibility as citizens. It is your duty as men and women. It is a fight that involves the whole of humankind. Together we will win this battle." Tony Blair also echoed the European stance of multilateralism, which is distinct to the US position when he said: "Interdependence is the governing characteristic of modern international politics. Its obvious corollary is unity of purpose in the international community. Yet the past few years have been marked by division. The trauma of September 11th and its aftermath; wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; MEPP stalled and slid back; disagreement over the Kyoto Protocol on climate change; and a feeling of helplessness as we watch the continent of Africa, unique among the continents of the world, see its poverty intensify, and its peoples ravaged by conflict, famine and disease: all have contributed to a sense of alienation and discord."
Western leaders realise the gravity of not addressing the catastrophes consuming the developing world because it directly affects their security and the future of the world. However, capitalist thinkers have still failed to dissect the problem and as a consequence their strategy is largely failing.
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