Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is an interpretation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development
paradigm as explained in the policy document released in October 2001, in terms of
Manuel CasteIls ' theory of the Network Society. This research is simply structured
into three sections: an explanation and criticisms of NEPAD, an explanation of
CasteIls ' theory, and a synopsis of correlations between the two.
The NEPAD is a development paradigm aimed at the socio-economic development of
the African continent. It is envisioned to be a partnership between the developed
world and African leadership to lift the continent from the depths of poverty,
corruption and exclusion, in which it now finds itself The document was created
through a merger of the Omega Plan, the Millennium Action Plan and the ECA
Compact. The main proponents of the initiative are Presidents Mbeki, Obasanjo and
Bouteflika. Although NEPAD has been well received internationally, it has come
under severe criticism from African civil society. Concern has been raised that
NEPAD will serve to further consolidate the neo-patrimonial state and existing elite
networks through providing the requested funding; in this context the argument for
increased foreign direct investment is especially questioned. The authors of the
document are especially criticised for excluding civil society from the drafting
process. Due to this lack of consultation, it is argued that NEPAD does not reflect the
true will of the African people. The neo-liberal undertones of the document, the
recognition of the process of globalisation, and Africa's resulting marginalisation as
well as the threat this poses for global security are further points of critique that are
explored in this thesis.
Manuel CasteIls provides an explanation of the new global economy in his theory of
the Network Society. He argues that the dominant system today, is a result of the
advances in information and communications technology (ICT) as well as the
capitalist pursuit of profit. The new global economy is therefore not only the new
dominant international economic system, but also the new historical reality. Against
this backdrop, he proposes a Technological Marshall Plan which essentially is a call
for massive technological investment into Africa to assist the continent to leap-frog
the industrial age and connect with the new global economy.
There are several points of correlation between NEPAD and Castells. Essentially
NEPAD takes the worldview explained by Caste/Is as its point of departure. NEPAD
then builds a development strategy in full coherence with the logic of the theory of the
Network Society. NEPAD concurs with CasteIls on the role played by ICT in the
process of globalisation. The disarticulation of space and time has led to an
instantaneous, global expression of social and economic life, specifically in financial
markets and the production process. The result is the inclusion of valuable people and
assets into the global network, while the devalued are excluded. Both NEPAD and
CasteIls argue that the current state of affairs is both morally wrong and
economically and politically unstable. It is therefore, as both ague, in the interests of
the developed world to engage in this new partnership. This thesis exposes
fundamental correlations between the theory of the Network Society and the New
Partnership for Africa's Development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is 'n interpretasie van die "New Partnership for Africa's Development"
(NEPAD) paradigma, soos uiteengesit in die beleids dokument wat in Oktober 2001
uitgereik is, aan die hand van Manuel CasteIls se teorie van die Netwerk Samelewing.
Die narvorsing is gestruktureerd in drie seksies: 'n verduideliking van NEPAD en die
kritiek daarop, 'n verduideliking van CasteIls se teorie en 'n samevatting van die
ooreenkomste tussen die twee.
NEPAD is 'n ontwikkelings paradigma, gemik op die sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling
van die Afrika kontinent. Dit word voorgehou as 'n venootskap tussen die ontwikkelde
wêreld en Afrika leierskap, waarin die kontinent uit die situasie van armmoede,
korrupsie en uitsluiting gehelp sal word. Die dokument is 'n kombinasie van die
Omega Plan, die Millenium Aksie Plan (MAP) en die ECA Compact. Die hoof
voorstanders van die initatief is Presidente Mbeki, Obassanjo en Bouteflika. Ten spyte
van NEPAD se goeie ontvangs in die internationale samelewing, het die burgelike
samelewing van Afrika dit nie sonder kritiek aanvaar nie. Kommer is uitgespreek dat
NEPAD net die belange van die neo-patrimoniale staat en die bestaande elite
netwerke sal konsolideer, deur die voorsiening van fondse. In die konteks word die
vraag vir die vergrote buitelandse direkte investering veral bevraagteken. Die outeurs
van die dokument word veral gekritiseer omdat hulle die burgerlike samelewing
uitgesluit het uit die ontwerp van die konsep. Juis om die rede word daar geargumenteer
dat NEPAD nie die ware wil van die mense van Afrika reflekteer nie.
Die neo-liberale ondertone van die dokument, die erkenning van die proses van
globalisasie en Afrika se marginalisasie wat gevolg het, as ook die bedreigings wat
dit vir globale sekuriteit inhou, is verdere kritiek waarna gekyk sal word in die tese.
Manuel CasteIls voorsien ons van 'n verduideliking van die nuwe globale ekonomie in
sy teorie oor die Netwerk Samelewing. Hy argumenteer dat die dominante sisteem
vandag voorspruit uit die ontwikkeling van informasie en kommunikasie tegnologie,
as ook die kapitalistiese strewe na profyt. Die nuwe globale ekonomie is daarom nie
net die nuwe dominante internationale ekonomiese sisteem nie, maar ook die nuwe
historiese realiteit. Teen die agtergrond stel hy 'n Tegnologiese Marshall plan voor,
wat essensiël 'n vraag vir substansiële tegnologiese investering in Afrika is, om die
kontinent te help om die industriële tydperk te oorbrug en aan te sluit by die nuwe
globale ekonomie.
Daar is heelwat ooreenstemmings tussen NEPAD en CasteIls se teorie. Essensiël
gebruik NEPAD CasteIls se wêreld beeld as vertrekpunt. Daarna bou NEPAD 'n
ontwikkelings strategie in ooreenstemming met die logika van die teorie van die
Netwerk Samelewing. NEPAD stem ooreen met CasteIls oor die rol wat IKTs speel in
die proses van globalisasie. Die verplasing van spasie en tyd het gelei tot 'n skielike,
globale uitdrukking van sosiale en ekonomiese lewe, spesifiek in finansiële markte en
die produksieproses. Die gevolge is die insluiting van waardevolle mense en bates in
die globale netwerk, terwyl dit die wat in waarde verminder uitstluit. Beide NEPAD
en CasteIls argumenteer dat die huidige stand van sake beide moreel en ekonomies
verkeerd is, as ook polities onstabiel. Dit is daarom, soos beide argumenteer, in die
belang van die ontwikkelde lande om deel te neem aan hierdie vernootskap. Die tesis
lig fundamentele ooreenkomste tussen die teorie van die Netwerk Samelewing en
NEPADuit.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53517 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Heij, Anneliese (Anneliese Mari) |
| Contributors | Muller, H. P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 118 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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