It is time Africa embraced isolationism. The way I see it, this is the only good economic system for African countries.

The goal must be to stop all importation, and lessen our focus on exportation so that we can separate ourselves from the world economy. When everything we use is created at home we will have jobs for all our people. Over-dependence on importation is the main cause of the widespread poverty on the continent. We get everything from foreign countries, Africa is the dumping ground for the worlds crap, clothing and plastics from Asia, cars and electronics from Europe & America.

We will never make it in the global economy, even if we become G-20 the magority of Nigerians will still be poor. Economic growth means nothing if people are unemployed. Globalism is like a pyramid, the 3rd world forms the base. Leaving the global economy is the only way we get get real improvement in Nigerians quality of life.

Expand on your statement . . .

Are you proposing we go down the route of 'North Korea'?

How do you people come up with these ridiculous threads? So you log on to Nairaland, purposefully click the link to the Politics section, and start thinking of creating a thread to ask some ridiculous questions/make inane statements like the one you have there? Or do you think up these statement/question, before making the decision, to head into Politics Board to create a thread for said question/statement? Any brain processing involved at any point as to whether it is a good idea or not?

^ This is not even a 'question' its a statement. Something is wrong with you, and it no be small ting ooo.

Sun of god: Expand on your statement . . .

Are you proposing we go down the route of 'North Korea'?

Interesting question, however there is a big difference between North Korea and Nigeria. North Korea does not have all the resources needed to sustain itself as an isolated entity. There is not enough farmland or materials in the country for the people to survive. This is why when the soviet union fell its people starved. They never intended for their economy to be isolated, they were co-dependent on Russia and China for oil and food in return for military hardware and political support.

In Africa we have everything we need. Africa has enough farmland to feed the whole world, plastics, oil and every other resource needed to locally produce everything we import.

Kobojunkie: How do you people come up with these ridiculous threads? So you log on to Nairaland, purposefully click the link to the Politics section, and start thinking of creating a thread to ask some ridiculous questions/make inane statements like the one you have there? Or do you think up these statement/question, before making the decision, to head into Politics Board to create a thread for said question/statement? Any brain processing involved at any point as to whether it is a good idea or not?

lol, you modified your posts so you wouldn't look as silly. Congrats. But if you really want to look smart you would have disputed my topic as a mature adult instead of posting half baked rants like this one.

FAIL.

Please Nairalanders, I cant refine my theory until i hear all the points of opposition. So if you see any possible problems with Isolationism post away, your opinions are needed.

no. this is a bad idea.

Actually I am with pleep on this. Isolationism, to an extent, would protect Africa from exploitation and rapid poverty. Why do you think some African countries have gold and diamonds n abundance, but almost none of them can afford gold chains. Don't you find it ironic. We are under selling our resources and our leaders easily sell us out when offered bribes from others. If you have gold, use it to make gold chains, electronics and consume it yourself. Self dependence is the key. We have the market, we have the resources, we have the man power and skills. What we need is a visionary leader to harness that and convert that to local products and improved consumption, and overall creation of wealth. Anybody that does not see anything wrong with our leaders' incessant quest (begging) for foreign investors is an astute mo*ron.

pleep: It is time Africa embraced isolationism. The way I see it, this is the only good economic system for African countries.

The goal must be to stop all importation, and lessen our focus on exportation so that we can separate ourselves from the world economy. When everything we use is created at home we will have jobs for all our people. Over-dependence on importation is the main cause of the widespread poverty on the continent. We get everything from foreign countries, Africa is the dumping ground for the worlds crap, clothing and plastics from Asia, cars and electronics from Europe & America.

We will never make it in the global economy, even if we become G-20 the magority of Nigerians will still be poor. Economic growth means nothing if people are unemployed. Globalism is like a pyramid, the 3rd world forms the base. Leaving the global economy is the only way we get get real improvement in Nigerians quality of life.

I think I agree with you on this. I think that the reason we are indeed not forging ahead as we should is because there is too much meddling in our affairs by so-called advanced nations. They dictate what our leaders should do like the IMF and world bank backed subsidy removal mandate that has plummeted many Nigerians into abject poverty and more. Yes, we are a dumping ground for many nations and you will be suprised at how many advanced countries will kick against this idea of yours because they benefit more from Africa as suppose to what Africa benefits from them.

All those outrageous interest rates the west charges our governments each time our governments stupidly take out a loan from them is helping western economies and leaving us financially depleted and our citizens in dire poverty. Besides, now that many advanced nations are going or have gone broke due to the economic global recession, I do think that this is the right time for Africa to practice isolationism so that we can get our house in order. Problem is, most of our leaders are puppets to the west so they are not going to agree to this wonderful idea of yours.

PS: I will be back on this thread to make sure my post did not grow wings and fly away into oblivion since lately a few of my posts have been mysteriously disappearing. Peace, out!

ebere1712: Actually I am with pleep on this. Isolationism, to an extent, would protect Africa from exploitation and rapid poverty. Why do you think some African countries have gold and diamonds n abundance, but almost none of them can afford gold chains. Don't you find it ironic. We are under selling our resources and our leaders easily sell us out when offered bribes from others. If you have gold, use it to make gold chains, electronics and consume it yourself. Self dependence is the key. We have the market, we have the resources, we have the man power and skills. What we need is a visionary leader to harness that and convert that to local products and improved consumption, and overall creation of wealth. Anybody that does not see anything wrong with our leaders' incessant quest (begging) for foreign investors is an astute mo*ron.

Very well said ebere!

pleep: It is time Africa embraced isolationism. The way I see it, this is the only good economic system for African countries.

The goal must be to stop all importation, and lessen our focus on exportation so that we can separate ourselves from the world economy. When everything we use is created at home we will have jobs for all our people. Over-dependence on importation is the main cause of the widespread poverty on the continent. We get everything from foreign countries, Africa is the dumping ground for the worlds crap, clothing and plastics from Asia, cars and electronics from Europe & America.

We will never make it in the global economy, even if we become G-20 the magority of Nigerians will still be poor. Economic growth means nothing if people are unemployed. Globalism is like a pyramid, the 3rd world forms the base. Leaving the global economy is the only way we get get real improvement in Nigerians quality of life.

Well said bro.. You've said it all and i wish our leaders will have some thinking faculty to implement this idea but no! they won't because, their heads is confiscated with corruption. Our leaders are disgrace to this nation.

If you make X, then you'd much prefer selling having a potential market of 7 billion people, rather than just the 160 million in Nigeria.

You'll get a higher price for your goods that way.

And at the end of the day, all of us are selling something..

Anyway, one can certainly argue for "protecting" local producers from external competition. But I don't think anyone would argue against those same local producers selling to the highest bidder, whether the buyer is from Nigeria or Nicaragua..

ebere1712: Anybody that does not see anything wrong with our leaders' incessant quest (begging) for foreign investors is an astute mo*ron.

It goes to show that education means nothing if you don't have the ability to see past what you are taught. Its pathetic, some very educated Africans will support ridiculous economic theories just because that is what they were taught in school.

Personally I have a problem with any sort of foreign investment. Even if it creates jobs and services that make the economy grow, there will always be a net flow of wealth out of the country. At its core any foreign investment is for profit, the bulk of which are going to the shareholders offshore. Nigeria's goal should be to recirculate wealth inside the country and never let it leave.

dasparrow:

They dictate what our leaders should do like the IMF and world bank backed subsidy removal mandate that has plummeted many Nigerians into abject poverty and more.
PS: I will be back on this thread to make sure my post did not grow wings and fly away into oblivion since lately a few of my posts have been mysteriously disappearing. Peace, out!

lol the moderators are getting crazy on this site, i have had more than 20 posts banned in the last few weeks. But that might be because I curse too much

That whole IMF fuel subsidy crap opened my eyes. I had always suspected the IMF's involvement in screwing over the 3rd world, but in the back of my head i always thought it was a conspiracy theory. Now its been proven beyond doubt, there was NO befnefit in removing the subsidy. Advice like that could only come from someone purposely trying to ruin Nigeria.

Good point

I think a sort of Isolation is Africaks best bet because as it is, we're not benefiting anything from the developed countries instead the reverse has always been the case. How long are we gonna continue to be exploited when we aint getting anything in return. We have to close our doors, look inwards and build human capital so that our countries will be better for it.

ekt_bear: If you make X, then you'd much prefer selling having a potential market of 7 billion people, rather than just the 160 million in Nigeria.

You'll get a higher price for your goods that way.

And at the end of the day, all of us are selling something..

Anyway, one can certainly argue for "protecting" local producers from external competition. But I don't think anyone would argue against those same local producers selling to the highest bidder, whether the buyer is from Nigeria or Nicaragua..

Your right, that is the principle the whole global economy is based on. But seeing as we are selling nothing but oil (little employment created), do you think Nigeria should stay in this system?

It would not very isolationist, but yea i wouldn't argue against local producers selling their stuff in Nicargua it brings their money into our economy. But they would be fools to buy from a country that doesn't reciprocate.

ekt_bear: no. this is a bad idea.

No, it's not a bad idea. China did the same some years back, and it's helping them big time. In the world today if I am not wrong, China is like the only country that can stand on it's own any time any day without any importation from any country. When China alone as a country could do this, where not Africa as a whole? It's painful that African leaders are not smart enough to see this.

IMF this...World Bank that.....All these are just to put we Africans in darkness. Imagine the exploitation of some french colonist (french puppet) in countries like Cameroon, cote d voir. With all there resources, they've got nothing to show.

There are jobs everywhere in Africa why else will European experts be here?
What we need is job creation through entrepreneurship initiatives. The current individuals with money in this country have it stashed in off-shore accounts or invest in properties abroad. The really dumb ones are just acquiring properties. Almost all of our capital budget goes down the drain through capital flight.

What Africa and Nigeria especially needs, is investment not from outside but from within.
The only person doing this is Dangote.

The problem of Nigeria is corruption.For GEJ to deal decisively with corruption,
let there be amnesty for all corrupt persons and those who have taken money out
should bring the money to invest in Nigeria. From there let the law deal ruthlessly
with any corrupt person hencefort without fear or favour. There is no other solution because there is corruption
everywhere. If this is done you will see transformation within 3 years.

Even if we ban goods from all countries in the world. They would still buy our oil (fact). Lets face it, once the oil is gone, we are done doing business with them. Look inwards, everybody is doing it except Afrika. Buy only what you absolutely need. Now we are in too deep, but we can gradually and subtly change that. Places where government have 100% business getting involved in is manufacturing of machinery and electronics. There is nothing like a global market, it is a scam. You only participate in a market that you can favourably sell something. Afrika is not yet ready for that market.

Paul John:

No, it's not a bad idea. China did the same some years back, and it's helping them big time. In the world today if I am not wrong, China is like the only country that can stand on it's own any time any day without any importation from any country. When China alone as a country could do this, where not Africa as a whole? It's painful that African leaders are not smart enough to see this.

Quite on the contrary, China's economic miracle began only when it OPENED UP its economy to foreign investment by creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs). If you doubt me, please Google "Deng Xiao-ping" or read about him in Wikipedia. Isolationism has been shown to fail time and time again.

where we ever in the global economy?

in this internet age? dream on

I dey laugh. Just read about China and you understand why isolationism is a bad idea.

HNosegbe:

Quite on the contrary, China's economic miracle began only when it OPENED UP its economy to foreign investment by creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs). If you doubt me, please Google "Deng Xiao-ping" or read about him in Wikipedia. Isolationism has been shown to fail time and time again.

GBAM!!!

North Korea and Cuba are examples of separatists economy; China and Taiwan also operated separatist economies due to their communist regime. The poster is making a valid suggestion, but I think we should try to balance staying connected to world economies and remaining economically independent. The less we import, the better for our development.

you have a very goood topice the heading is stupid,that must have caused ppl to buse u initially,i had to read ur post again b4 i lknew what u are trying to say,wht you are proposing was what india did in the 80s during rajiv ghandi,all imports were heavily taxed to the extent that it wasnt worth it and indians started to produce their own scooter ,saris(cloth)and virtually everything,it is a sad story that our economy is heavily depended on importation of finished item,just like an americn senator once said "nigeria is a country that export all that she need but import all that she has"

Protectionism rather than isolation should be the way to go.

Paul John:

No, it's not a bad idea. China did the same some years back, and it's helping them big time. In the world today if I am not wrong, China is like the only country that can stand on it's own any time any day without any importation from any country. When China alone as a country could do this, where not Africa as a whole? It's painful that African leaders are not smart enough to see this.

Please go and read up on your history of China, in particular read on the Cultural Revolution and gang of 4. China 'miracle' started when China opened it's doors, do you know as of 1999, there were over 500,000, yes 500,000 US owned businesses and partnerships in China.