Dead Aid, By Dambisa Moyo
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dambisa Moyo argues in this book that African aid is not working. Its epigraph is a heart-rending message that was found on the bodies of Guinean teenage stowaways who attempted to reach Europe in the landing gear of an airliner. To "the Excellencies and officials of Europe", it pleads: "We ask you to help us to study so we can be like you."
But what is the best way to help? In his foreword, Niall Ferguson argues that the African discussion has been colonised, as was the African continent, with public debate led by white, non-African men, from the Earth Institute's Jeffrey Sachs to Bono.
Moyo was born and educated in Zambia until her university closed during a coup, whereupon she won a scholarship to the US. She here offers an "African view of Africa's economic problems". She argues that the receipt of concessional loans is a curse encouraging corruption and conflict, and that what poor countries need is not multi-party democracy but "a decisive benevolent dictator". A controversial message, all right, delivered in eloquent, erudite prose.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments