This essay was written in response to the below question, again as part of my course with the Open University.  Not the best marks in the world, but I did enjoy teasing the subject a little: In what ways and to what extent have changes in aid policies and in world economic conditions in the first decade of the twenty-first century increased the autonomy of African states in macroeconomic policy formation? In answering the above question, we must begin by explaining what we mean when we discuss the autonomy of African states in the development of macroeconomic policy.  We must then examine the changes that have occurred in relation to aid policies over the last decade.  In addition to this, we must explore the changes that have occurred in world economic conditions during the same... Similar posts

Welcome if you have visited from seeing our decorative dog cushion Sammy in the Sunday Times today. Lola and Sammy can beviewed and  purchased...... Similar posts

Exactly 30 years ago today a coup in what we know as the Central African Republic overthrew the self-styled ‘Emperor’ Bokassa  and returned that country from its purported status as the ‘Central African Empire’ to its previous constitutional position. All well and good, you might say, but this event, and what preceded it and followed it, was in many ways typical of the tragedies, betrayals and abuses that have characterised African developments over the years. Bokassa had been the country’s strongman since he had himself overthrown his predecessor in 1965. By 1972 he had declared himself ‘President-for-Life’ (a title assumed by quite a few in the rogues’ gallery of recent African history). But that wasn’t enough, and in 1976 he... Similar posts

Interesting timing - there is currently a debate going on in Germany regarding the Stasi files. It seems that the law covering how the files were used and vetting expires this month and some parties want the files to be sealed. BBC NEWS | Europe | Stasi spy chief Markus Wolf dies... Similar posts