Africa's growth performance since gaining independence from colonial rule in the 1950s and 1960s has been quite disappointing. In fact, studies have shown that Sub-Saharan Africa's development experience over the past 50 to 60 years has been sporadic, unpredictable, and until recently economic growth in this region has lagged behind the rest of the world. Despite Africa being rich in minerals, fertile soil and a good climate for agriculture, there is still need for innovative force to make good use of these resources. This paper argues that from the perspective of world-system's theory developed by sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein, Sub-Saharan countries like Zambia can stimulate their economic growth and alleviate poverty if all nations, developed and developing, could embrace global equality. A survey across the globe shows that Africa as a continent is faced by challenges of rising poverty, poor infrastructure, and climate change despite the introduction of accommodative policies and foreign investment (Wallerstein, 2004, p.45). This issue has raised some controversial questions seeking to find out what these nations have to do in order to achieve economic development breakthrough.
Immanuel Wallerstein's Argument
In his 2004 book World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction, Immanuel Wallerstein argues that countries can grow wealthy and alleviate poverty by accumulating capital. He uses the idea of a new innovation, how it grows first into a core product that extracts high profits from bidders due to the monopoly or oligopoly of producers who patent information about their new information or use it as an in-house affair (Wallerstein, 2004, p.51). He uses this analogy to separate states that primarily core producers, e.g., the United States, European states, and part of Asian states such as Russia, to refer to developed nations and states that are peripheral producers, e.g., African nations, to refer to developing nations that later copy the ideas of developed nations. He introduced another category of nations referred to as semi-peripheral to refer to countries that have the characteristics of both primary and peripheral producers. According to him, semi-peripheral nations are such as India and Brazil (Wallerstein, 2004, p.57). Core producers enjoy the highest value of the innovation and therefore accumulate a lot of wealth from it. Then the semi-peripheral buy the idea and use it develop their economy. Later, the peripheral producers borrow the idea and therefore do not get much value from it.
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Wallerstein argues that, if a state is too weak, the chances of it being corrupt are very high, and therefore, through bribes and over-taxation, such states do not enjoy the surplus value that the country may make. Such nations do not attract lucrative investments and this, in turn, leads to a slow economic growth. On the other hand, companies and other businesses are assured of conducive working conditions in developed nations that have adopted the right balance that allows the firm to keep most of the surplus value it generates, while the government collects enough taxes to provide sovereignty and security (Wallerstein, 2004, p.62). He argues that this is the best way to ensure the prosperity of status of a nation because it provides a conducive environment that attracts investors who come and boost the economy by bringing in revenue and creating employment opportunities. These are some of the accepted facts that enable a nation to alleviate poverty.
Another chapter of this book was devoted to trans-national ideologies that view the French Revolution as a key turning point in the rise of nation-states. The author argues that, in order to have a political system that accommodates all kinds of people, a nation requires to give its citizens the sovereign power to decide which regime to lead them (Wallerstein, 2004, p.66). Through such a democratic system, people have the power to champion their decisions and come up with strategies that can enable a nation to grow economically. Wallerstein observes that this is the way nations like French that are currently under the category of developed states were able to pull down their barriers and allowed foreign investment that saw them alleviate poverty.
Measures that Zambia can take to Increase Economic Growth
According to a recent census conducted in African nations such as Zambia have shown that the population is growing at a high rate and as a result, economic growth has not been able to keep up with it. However, research has indicated the possibility of these nations tapping into their resources and being able to grow economically and alleviate poverty at the same time (Wallerstein, 2004. P.71). Through world-systems theory, Zambia can invest in education and research in order for its citizens to come up with innovative ways that they can use to increase their agricultural output and be able to discover minerals and other natural resources that they have not utilized (Wallerstein, 2004, p.75). Through this, the country will be able to improve its infrastructure and create employment opportunities for both its skill and non-skilled population.
Cases of corruption in Zambia and neighboring states have doubled in the past one decade. The government imposes high taxes on imports and business within the country which has discouraged people from investing in the country. However, the government can come up with policies that balance between the profitability of businesses within the country and taking enough taxes that can enable the government to provide security for its people (Wallerstein, 2004, p.82). Through such a move, Zambia will be able to attract both local and foreign investors who are the chief contributors to economic growth. This can be made possible by the state opening up borders and implementing policies that reduce barriers at these borders.
Conclusion
In order for Sub-Saharan countries like Zambia to grow economically and alleviate poverty, they need to form more accountable and committed governance. And then come up with policies that will reduce corruption, improve human development through education, and avoid cultural beliefs and norms that are unnecessary and do not gear towards strong economic growth. In my opinion, I believe that a country like Zambia has the potential to benefit economically from the above world-systems argument.
Reference
Wallerstein, I. (2004). World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction . Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
