Our Common Humanity in the Information Age. Principles and Values for Development

The Global South
The epicenter of the poverty problem is the developing nations with the greatest number 
of those living under a dollar a day, or the Global South. The problem itself cannot be 
attributed to those it plagues; poverty is not the fault of the poor themselves. But there are 
accountability and governance problems in several nations that are impacted by poverty 
the most. The news is rife with tales of corruption and poor governance. The aid that the 
world has allotted and delivered cannot be consumed by those who need it and whether 
this due to negligence or malfeasance the result is the same: people will die. Therefore 
the governments of the Global South, with their people’s lives in mind, must do much 
more to e liminate the bureaucracy that hinders development and kills. While the 
humanitarian aspect should be the only reason needed to do reduce corruption, sadly this 
is not enough for corrupt officials who have the ability to get quick monetary gains at the 

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Chapter VII – Shared Responsibility and Partnerships | 141 
expense of the poor. The practical reasons for the elimination of corruption and harmful 
bureaucracy are many. When corruption is reduced, and the poor are cared for, they are 
more likely to support and grant legitimacy to the regime in power than otherwise. This is 
likely to increase the lifespan of the given regime, which in areas of political instability is 
normally low. Other benefits include a better image in the eyes of the world, which is 
certainly a long term boost for any nation. Thus, if the leaders of impoverished nations 
can look past immediate monetary gains, and work to eliminate internal corruption and 
adopt best practices, they have so much to reap in the long run, for themselves and their 
people.
Industry
Images of modern sub-Saharan Africa evoke a myriad of emotions in the viewer, but 
almost never among these feelings is opportunity. A land embittered with conflict, 
plagued by disease and rife with political, economic and national instability, Africa and 
opportunity are not seemingly compatible terms, especially when its poorest are 
concerned. This is a gross oversight, however, on the part of industry. At the end of 
World War II, the United States saw a war ravaged, unstable, and debilitated Europe. 
Yet, through the Marshall Plan, it invested in and developed in Europe, crafting a 
monumental post war reconstruction. These investments yielded magnificent results for 
that continent, but also for the United States, which reaped economic returns and 
strengthened relations. What Africa needs today is its own Marshall Plan. A sustained, 
regulated flow of inward investment in Africa is essential to its progress and to the 
eradication of poverty on that continent. At the forefront of this project must be the 
business community. Where nations are slow to act and inefficient, industry can be quick, 
powerful and can change lives. If companies invest in Africa, they have much to benefit 
from, including a tremendous market that is yearning to be developed. It will take effort 
and expenditure, no doubt, but the potential rewards, both humanitarian and monetary are 
incredible.