GLOCALISATION: A Development Model for Africa

Glocalisation is both an idea and a process. As an idea, ‘it refers to a set of principles wherein developing sovereign national states in the Global community, will formulate policies of regional and local content for the actualization of development in their respective regions. As a process, ”Glocalisation” is the beginning of a new era for developing states to attain optimum development vis-à-vis globalizing the Local, and localizing the global’.

In other words, leaders and policy makers of developing nations must acknowledge that workable solutions to the challenges facing their regions must best be sourced ‘locally’ vis-à-vis globalizing the local, and localizing the global. Granted, the world is a Global Village. In the pre- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) world, economic advancement was not demographically defined; rather it came out of the level of the scientific and technological know-how each country was exposed to. The advanced countries of the western hemisphere hoarded as much scientific and technological information as possible leaving the Third World nations in the dust. Countries with large populations like the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India & China) experienced major hiccups: we can well remember the near collapse of the Brazilian currency in the 1980s, the widespread hunger in India and China (not forgetting that Japan once colonized China, but today China has overtaken Japan as the world’s 2^nd largest economy).

However, access to scientific and technological information has known very little restriction today, as the nations above (BRIC) made the best of it, investing heavily on education, the process through which intellectual capital is built. This has to a large extent facilitated rapid growth and development of these nations especially those with common origin, interest, culture, philosophies amongst others. Needless to state why we have nations forming alliances to promote their common interest such as the European Union, African Union, Asian Tigers, etc.

Suffice to state that the development of nations as mentioned above can largely be attributed to the application of principles inherent in the concept of GLOCALISATION which requires an independent nation(s) though recognizing her inclusion in the comity of nations, design and articulate a policy framework of local content for the attainment of her developmental goals. Consider a research report by Goldman Sachs (2003): The rise of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India & China). The report as originally published predicted that China’s economy will surpass Germany in the next few years, Japan by 2015, the United States by 2041. India’s growth rate will be the highest – not China’s- and it will overtake Japan (today the world’s second-largest economy) by 2032. Taken together, the BRIC could be larger than the United States and the developed economies of Europe within 40years.

According to the Goldman Sachs report, China’s economy overtook Germany’s economy, a year earlier than expected, and overtook Japan in July 2010. It is now believed that the Chinese economy will overtake the United States by 2027. With India accounting for 10 of the 30 fastest growing urban areas in the world and 700million people moving to cities by 2050, its influence on the world economy will be bigger and quicker than was implied in 2003 analysis.(source: Wikipedia)

Closely following the BRIC prediction is the 2004 Report on the NEXT ELEVEN {N-11}, where Nigeria is included among eleven nations warming up to also assert themselves in the global economic map. While China overtakes the United States as the greatest economic power in the world by 2047, Nigeria would become the 20^th largest economy by 2025 and the 12^th by 2050 ahead of G-7 giants, Italy and Canada.

Successive leaders coupled with a consistent local developmental plan have been able to take the countries in focus above to their present world status. India as been able to localize the global especially in the area of alternative health care. Most countries around the world seek after India’s healthcare expertise resulting in a rapid economic and social development to the nation. Japan has taken the world in the field of technology vis-à-vis globalizing the local, and localizing the global. Most of Japanese products compete favorably world over with those from the United States, U.K, Germany, Spain, just to mention a few. Same is true of Algeria and South-Africa, nations in Africa that have achieved remarkable development due to a consistent Local framework vis-à-vis globalizing the local, and localizing the global. South Africa hosted the famous FIFA world cup tournament in 2010, as the first Africa nation. Dubai of the United Arab Emirates hosts a ‘prototype’ of the world trade center (New York); a center for trade and tourism in Africa is non existent.

Needless to state that the countries making progress have learned to adapt international opportunities to their local benefits. Much can be learned by developing nations especially in Africa in achieving national and continental development from the concept of Glocalisation

Glocalisation will strengthen and give the needed impetus for Africans to proffer local solutions to the challenges facing the continent. Africa is well positioned on the world stage being endowed with numerous human and material resources to address its challenges with little or no external influence. While African owes the Global community of which it is an integral part for some of her achievement in commerce, healthcare, insurance, transportation, etc, much of the desired results yet to be recorded by the continent especially in the area of governance, Human Rights, freedom and legality can realistically be attained with the principle of Glocalisation.

Presently, a major challenge facing the continent of Africa is the political upheaval in IVORY COAST where the incumbent president – Lauren Gbagbo lost in the nation’s last general election to his opposition leader- Alassane Quattara and insists on holding on to power despite calls from the international community and regional heads that he hands over. Interestingly, African Leaders under the auspices of AFRICAN UNION have succeeded in the past in ousting a defiant and failed leader out of power. Examples are sierra-lone, Liberia, Kenya just to mention few. ECOWAS, a regional community of which Ivory Coast is a signatory to with Nigeria as its seat of power is about to use military measure as a last resort to make the vote of the people count if the incumbent insists on not vacating office. Much of this is of interest to political observers and people around the world, especially Africans. Challenges as above are addressed locally with consideration to external measures.  In addition, the age-long Niger Delta region crisis in Nigeria over resource control appears to be halted in 2010 when the government in power granted ‘AMNESTY’ or ‘STATE PARDON’ to the militants, leading to an unprecedented handing over of arms and ammunition by the aggrieved youths of the community. Many benefited from the federal government Rehabilitation Programs for the ex-militants which empowered the youths in various skills and trade. That in itself was a practical demonstration of principles inherent in Glocalisation.

African leaders must come to terms with the peculiar challenges facing the continent and in the spirit of the African continent, proffer local solutions to the continent’s challenges. This is the time for African leaders to call back home Africans in the Diaspora to contribute towards the development of the continent using their international exposure and experience in all field of human endeavors. This will in turn translate into globalizing the local, and localizing the global for the benefit of the continent and its people.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) of the third world nations will be realized only if the principles of Glocalisation are applied. African Leaders must consolidate effort towards the actualization of the MGDs. In my view, African leaders through the African Union should develop a long term development plan of Local Content geared towards addressing Poverty, Education, Mortality, Human Rights, etc., which are the issues embedded in the MDGs. Hence, there should be a’ Master-Plan’ out of which regional bodies in Africa-(ECOWAS, SADC) draw their individual plans. The MGDs should be a ‘driving force’ for African leaders to take the continent to its next level in the global community. Imagine a time when the western region of Africa connects the East, South and North through an integrated Rail system….(AFROLINE), when an African University is rated amongst the best five in the world; when a common mechanized agricultural system is developed; when the average African lives above one dollar per-day; when we can rely on our indigenous medical experts in handling terminal ailments such as cancer; and when our leaders plays high value in service devoid of corruption, violence, abuse of power and so on. All these can be achieved when principles inherent in Glocalisation are holistically applied in Africa.