| Abstract: | In southern Africa, the importance of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for several countries has exceeded even the high rates of dependence seen elsewhere in Africa. It is only now that South Africa is joining its neighbours at the receiving end of ODA. However, there are reasons to approach ODA with serious misgivings. This article offers a critical review of motives, mechanisms and impact of aid by the OECD donors to developing countries, in particular sub-Saharan Africa. ODA aid is modest, statistics exaggerate donors' real contributions, while the anti-poverty content is minimal and the aid is not chiefly motivated by altruism and solidarity but serves rather as an instrument of power. The more aid sub-Saharan African countries have received, the poorer their recorded economic peerformance. Aid has had many negative side effects. Yet both critique and proposals for reform risk exaggerating the aid system's importance. At macroeconomic levels, commodity prices and terms of trade carry far greater weight. A radical overhaul of the aid system may be in the offing. South Africa, where a broad movement for democracy gained strength from an aid relationship, can help transform conventional aid relationships. Bibliogr., sum. |
AfricaBib 
Periodical article
Leiden University catalogue
WorldCat