Upcoming Policy Meals

 

Coming soon...

 

 

Past Policy Meals

Great African Debates: Colonial Powers or Africans: Who should be blamed for the conflicts on the continent

Saturday, February 26th - 12:45PM to 2PM (Littauer L150)

 

Debaters: 

  • Selma Hassan (MPA/ID2) proposed the motion that Africans are to blame for much of the conflicts in Africa, and should take their own responsibility

  • Michael Pulichino (MPA/ID1) opposed the motion, and proposing that former Colonial Powers are to blame and should take responsibility for their actions.

Moderator: 

  • Nishan Degnarain (MPA/ID1)

Voting Results: 

--------------- 

Selma Hassan (Africans are to blame) - 13 

Michael Pulichino (former Colonial Powers) - 12

 ---------------

From left to right: Nishan, Selma and Michael

 

 

Many thanks for all those who attended today's debate, to Michael and Selma their respective arguments and Nishan for his moderating skills. This is obviously a very complex matter and many issues raised kept several of us back much longer after the debates ended.

 

Facts: 

  • Africa is currently the world's most war torn continent: during the 1990s, 32 African countries have experienced violent conflict, and many of those face continuing civil war or the looming threat of renewed fighting. 

  • Debt owed to rich industrial nations are often blamed for keeping Africa in poverty and a major cause of the conflicts

  • Africa's high degree of ethnic diversity has often been blamed for causing violent conflict

  • The U.S. Committee For Refugees says approximately 9 million people are refugees or internally displaced in Central Africa and the Horn of Africa.

"The time is long past when one could claim ignorance about what was happening in Africa or about what was needed to achieve progress. The time is also past when the responsibility for producing change could be shifted onto others’ shoulders. It is ours and it is theirs – the world’s and Africa’s." 

UN General Secretary Kofi Annan

 

"The problem of all the ethnic and tribal wars must be either resolved or at least largely reduced through a big effort by the countries that deal in arms to prevent the over-militarisation of Africa."

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Michel Camdessus 

 

Good News from Africa!

Why Africa can claim the 21st Century: a conversation with Professor Calestous Juma In line with the Africa Caucus' commitment to change the negative perspective on the continent. This policy breakfast gave participants and opportunity to discuss positive experiences led on the continent that remain unheard of because they are below the radar screen. Calestous Juma, a national of Kenya and Professor of the Practice of International Development at KSG and the coordinator of the United Nations Millennium Project's Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation shared his experience and insights with participants in an intimate discussion.

 

Do NGO's make a difference? An experience from Africa

Our special guest, Michael Carson (MPA/MidCareer '04), the Program Director for Partners for Development (http://www.pfd.org), discussed the experience and the relevance of his organization serving vulnerable populations in developing countries to improve their quality of life by addressing needs in the areas of of credit, health, agriculture, water and sanitation. Current programs are in Nigeria, Cambodia and Bosnia & Herzegovina

 

Changing the perception on Africa: The Power of Culture

Sweet Mother Tour 2004 Music Video Screening and Discussion

Join Derrick N. Ashong, PhD candidate in African-American Studies at Harvard University, as he introduces the new West African hit music video, Sweet Mother, and explores a positive vision of our Sweet Mother Africa - using media to bring about change. http://www.soulfege.com/soulsmt.php 

 

Managing Africa’s Development: Governance and Leadership Challenges

On Saturday, April 10, 2004, members of the Harvard graduate community and students from other graduate schools in the Boston area gathered to explore challenges to leadership in Africa. They discussed the meaning of leadership for the continent and the implications of improving it for the development of African countries. They offered possible directions to improve governance and leadership within an African context.