abstract:

Africa continues to be the among the poorest, if not the poorest continent in the world.  Hundreds of billions of dollars have flooded across the Pacific Ocean destined to help alleviate the extreme poverty in many African nations..  However, over the past decades little, if any, change has been made in the economic and political stability of the region.  Intergovernmental Organizations, Regional Organizations, Non-governmental organizations, and multinational collaborations have all crusaded a specific mission ( providing food, medical assistance, military, or financial aid) and yet only in recent years has Africa slowly began to make forward progress.  This study will examine the effects of prolonged financial aid, and why the continued flow of financial aid into Africa is a detriment to any significant economic growth.   This study will argue that the continued pouring of aid to Africa simply blankets the problem and only serves to cover up the instability in the region for a short period of time, and that the only hope for true progress in social, political, and economic aspects is to encourage investment in African companies and/or resources, and to develop trade relations between African nations and foreign states.  The establishment of strong trade relations will allow for continued economic growth and greater stability in the structure of African communities.  In examining the above problems, this project will highlight the necessity of  engaging foreign states in the increased development of African trade and socioeconomic structure.