State-building In Developing Countries - Essay Example

Building A represents a political and social accord by which people agree to establish a system through which governance functionalities are undertaken (Finer 45). The emergence and existence of state is a complex process, which continues to occur presently. The formation of states in Europe provides a point of reference for today’s philosophers. However, the currently political and economic landscape has changed, but it also bears some similarities to the past, which makes history a vital aspect of this evaluation. The formation of states, over the years, has come under the influence of factors such as existing superpowers, economic ideologies and political ideologies. Third world nations face various challenges such as poverty, lack of capital, lack of knowhow and political sabotage. By contrast, when most European nations emerged, there was minimal industrial development globally making it much easier for them to catch up with the developed nation such as England and Germany. Overall, the history of European states bears numerous similarities and differences with the development of third world nations. To undertake, the above analysis, it is vital to understand key facts, which influence development globally. Firstly, capitalism, despite its weaknesses is the most successful economic model while democracy is the most preferred system of governance. This means that nations that opt for alternative models of political and economic governance in the third world will normally face a bleak future. America, where capitalism began has always been unwilling to trade with communistic states. During the 1960s, when most African nations gained independence, they encountered one major decision, which was a choice between communism and capitalism. At the time, America and the then USSR were locked in a cold war that manifested itself in third world nations as a choice between the two systems fronted by the two superpowers. The choice of one system over the other had numerous implications. For instance, Tanzania chooses communism replicated in that country as the ‘Ujamaa’ system. Unfortunately, the system failed to work which result in economic deterioration. However, this does not mean that third world nations that adopted capitalism succeeded. Just like their counterparts, progress is hampered largely by internal lawlessness, lack of leadership, poor policymaking and the lack of institutions that can support development amidst rapid social change (Finer 89). Yusuf Cohen writes that most of these nations are characterized by civil and political instability, which give way to violence. The government in its quest to gain authority uses violence to solidify power nationally. As such, violence is a common characteristic of the third world nations. One of the key similarities between the Europeans states and the third world nations is the influence that superpowers on such nations. During the emergence of Europe, the most dominant powers were Germany and the United Kingdom and later America and the USSR. These nations through the exercise of their military and economic power had significant implications on state building in Europe. For instance, Germany was responsible for political and human turmoil witnessed in Poland during the start of the twentieth century. Germany onslaught on Polish territory resulted in the death of thousand of Polish citizens. This result in slow development of Poland, which in the past has been a recipient of massive amounts of aid from America. In Africa’s case, the role of the world superpower manifested itself through colonization after the Second World War. After the scramble and partitioning of Africa, by the Europe’s most powerful nations they established colonies. The colonial powers established colonial rule in these states. The colonial masters benefitted from their colonies through exploitation. Africa was a source of cheap raw materials to fuel industrialization in Europe. In addition, the natives were a source of cheap labour in the large plantation. The above examples are an indication of the exploitative nature of the superpowers. However, in Africa’s case the impact was more profound. In both cases, the aggression of the powerful nations has political, human and economic cost. In South America, the occupation by Spain has resulted in similar consequences. Countries such as Nicaragua, El Salvador and Peru remain poor partly because of their colonial history and poor governance in the post independence era ((Huntington 60). Charles Tilly postulates that Europe history serves as a point of reference as to the process of state building but concedes the modern third world nations in Africa, South America and Southern Asia are facing more sterner tests than their counterparts in Europe (Tilly 80). In that reference, it is vital to point out that colonization had minimal implications on Europe as did not last long since due to the emergence of organizations such as the League of Nations and United Nations, which ensured that occupying countries conceded occupied territory in Europe. However, the arrangement in the above organizations did not consider the plight of nations in South America, Africa and Southern Asia. One of the common characteristic between Europe’s past and third world nations is the popular struggle leading to the birth of the nation. Tilly thoughtful exploration reveals the role of popular revolutionary movements, which at times may turn violent. The popular movements took away power from the potential holders of power (Tilly 67). Various countries have witnessed such courses. For instance, Hitler used his party as a platform to launch his onslaught for power in Germany. Later, he staged the burning of the parliament as a means to consolidate power in Germany and establish the country’s political philosophy. By contrast, there have been numerous coups in third world nation such as Ghana, Nigeria, Colombia and Bolivia. However, there is a stack contrast between the revolutionary struggles in Europe and the third world nations. In the third world nations, the weaknesses in the governmental institutions, poverty and lack of belief in the system resulted in armed revolutions that led to massive property and human loss. Deducing any similarities between Europe and third world nation will require an incisive comparison since Europe past has been relatively peaceful after the formation of legitimate governments. According to by Samuel Huntington, after independence, third world nations had relatively weak rules of law primarily due lack of proper structures of governance (Huntington 34). As a result, corruption and impunity became rampant which resulted in public frustration leading a lack of belief in the government structures. Conversely, European nation had an effective government bureaucracy, which delivered on economic, social and political projects. Subsequently, there was more support for the government institutions. In various ways, the existence of popular movement is a similarity but the details of the movement affected the nation building process present key differences between third world nations and Europe. Alexander Gerschenkron, an economic historian introduced a way through which people may look deeper into development, and how industrialization would influence various countries with reference to their level of development. Gerschenkron notes that for one to make an objective evaluation of industrialization, it is crucial to consider other related factors such as per capita, savings level, literacy and technological advancement. Analysis of industrialization in isolation would paint an inaccurate picture of the development since other factors such as literacy and per capita level would also contribute to how the citizenry responds to industrialization. As per this theory, countries that were economically backward industrialized slowly due to the lack of economic pre-requisites (Gerschenkron 1). For instance, Britain industrialised rapidly as compared to Russia since it was economically backward than Britain. Most European nations emerged during the industrialization age while the third world nations emerged when industrialization was giving way to a technological age. Currently, third world nations deal with the challenges of a technologically advanced world. Historically, Europe unindustrialized nations produced low value goods, which were mainly unprocessed agricultural products, which fetched lower returns in the international market. Consequently, those countries would develop slowly due to lower national incomes. In opposition, industrialized nations that made high value goods earned more revenues spurring constant development (Gerschenkron 152). Similarly, the third world nations have agricultural based economies, which earn relatively lower amounts of returns. First world nations by contrast manufacture high value goods, which have relatively high returns, which has enabled sustained development. As such, a country’s development depends on how it utilises technology or industrialization to spur its economy. Like industrialization, technology provides a platform through which the third world nations may catch up with the developed world. Presently, it will be harder due to the monetary and human resources required to catch up with the developed nations. The modernization theory states that democratization precedes urbanization, industrialization, improvements in literacy levels and wealth creation. The theory holds for the majority of the European countries except for a few exceptions. For instance, the theory is true in France, Italy and England. Development in the political arena, which led to the democratization, provided a platform for equitable development in the country. On the contrary, Germany democratization processes lagged behind other nations despite making massive economic strides. The theory also does not apply in other countries such as South Korea and South Africa. In particular, the latter was a nation under as repressive and colonial rule, but it managed to develop into a second world nation. Similarly, other nations such as China have also managed to develop without having democratic institutions of governance (Tilly 157). Essentially, democracy provides an enabling environment where justice is upheld allowing stability to prevail. Stability enabled the countries to make economic progress uninterrupted since most the country’s resources, both human and monetary, are committed to projects geared towards enhancing development. Due to the lack of credible democracies, which commands legitimacy in third world nations, there has been few cases stability in these countries. As a result, very few countries in that category have realized credible development. In Europe’s case, democratization bred economic progress. However, the lack of strong democratic institutions means that third world nations keep plunging into problems, which are unfavourable for political, social and economic progress. Therefore, the modernization theory does not hold for most of these countries that have achieved minimal progress on various fronts. Presently, the third world nations face dynamic challenges relative to European nations. Third world nations have to deal with imbalanced global trade policies, which favour the developed nations. The trade balances is normally in favour of developed nations that offer high value goods. Trade restrictions have locked out poor nations from trading in the lucrative markets such as America and the European Union. For instance, third world nations cannot compete competitively with American agricultural products since their government provides subsidies. As such, the third world nations make relatively lower amounts returns. By contrast, the European nations did not face such tough trading challenges during their early years. Politically, powerful nations have fuelled conflict through their policies (Tilly 201). America has been at the centre of the conflict, which has ravaged Afghanistan for about three decades. The intervention of the powerful countries has resulted in a never-ending political crisis in such a country with minimal hope of stability in the near future. The country is undulating between periods of peace and conflict. Historically, very few nations experienced such challenges, which made its much easier for European nations to consolidate progress. At present, third world nations such as Somalia, Libya, and Nigeria have to confront terrorism, which is widely attributable to western powers. Terrorism has been an expression of disapproval for western nation’s involvement military involvement in the Middle East. Act of terrorism have impaired development in third world nations an indications of the factors that hamper development. Evidently, Europe’s past provides an insightful point of reference upon which one can undertake comparisons. There are several similarities in state building in Europe but also huge disparities between modern day third world nations. A common characteristic in the third world nations is democratic institutions, which lack legitimacy, which is in stack contracts to Europe’s well-entrenched democratic institutions of governance such as the legislature, and judiciary that the citizenry believe in. Clearly, there are obvious disparities between state building in Europe and the third world nations. Violence is common phenomena employed as tool to cause a revolution or enable the state to consolidate power and create order forcefully. Tilly and Cohen’s radical views with regard to the existence of the state and Gerschenkron’s insight into economic history provide insightful perspectives on state building. Works Cited Finer, Herman. Theory and practice of modern government. New York, NY: Holt Publishing, 1949. Print. Gerschenkron, Alexander. Gerschenkron’s Theory of Economics Backwardness. 2014. Web. 2014. https://www.wlu.ca/documents/32838/Topic_12--Economics_Backwardness.pdf Gerschenkron, Alexander. Economic Backwardness in Historical Perspective: A Book of Essays. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1962. Print. Huntington, Samuel. Political Order in Changing Societies. New York, NY: Yale University Press, 1968. Print. Tilly, Charles. "War Making and State Making As Organized Crime." Bringing the State Back. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1985. Print. Read More