THE shift towards right-wing politics in the Western world is unfolding faster than anticipated. While it was inevitable that Western nations would eventually turn inwards, the abruptness manner of this transformation has taken many by surprise. Yet, it is happening, nonetheless.
A growing sentiment in Western political discourse suggests that these nations have given enough to the world and must now prioritise their own people. Regardless of historical arguments about colonialism, trade imbalances and their impact on Africa, the current right-wing movement is justified in focusing on domestic interests.
More than six decades have passed since many African nations gained independence, yet economic self-sufficiency remains elusive. One of the primary obstacles has been reliance on Western aid, which, in exchange for access to raw materials and political influence, has sustained African economies without fostering genuine growth. At the same time, it is inconsistent to claim independence while continuing to depend on former colonisers.
For decades, calls for self-reliance in developing countries have been ignored as foreign aid gave a blank cheque and made it easier for African governments to function without prioritising economic expansion. However, today’s global political landscape demands that each nation stand on its own, focus on its own economic growth path and interact with other nations as an equal partner.
Foreign aid and investment have long been central to Africa’s economic policies, without recognition that a time will come when Western countries will focus inwards. That moment has now arrived and it is hitting developing nations hard. The US funding freeze and similar announcements by other Western countries have left many governments of developing countries exposed, raising critical questions about how essential services, such as healthcare, can be out-sourced to foreign donors.
For over four decades, development experts have argued that locally-driven initiatives are essential for sustainable, culturally appropriate and community-focused economic growth. Unfortunately, these arguments were often dismissed as NGO rhetoric rather than integral to national development strategies.
Locally-led development optimises resources by leveraging on indigenous skills, knowledge and materials, resulting in cost-effective, sustainable growth. By now, African nations should have been processing their own raw materials rather than exporting them to Dubai and Western markets, enriching other economies while leaving their own underdeveloped.
One of the major reasons African nations remain economically weak is persistent brain drain. While significant investments are made in educating skilled professionals, many leave for Western countries where better opportunities exist.
As a result, Africa effectively subsidises wealthier nations by providing them with skilled workers while grappling with lack of qualified personnel at home. Encouraging the participation of local professionals will foster economic engagement, ensuring their expertise benefits the communities that financed their training.
Economies driven by local participation tend to be more sustainable because people take pride in contributing to their communities and the wider development of their country. When individuals are supported and their ideas and investments are protected, they become more productive. Locally-led development ensures that solutions are designed with an intimate understanding of local challenges, making them more effective and culturally relevant.
As Western nations increasingly turn inwards, developing countries must seize this moment to focus on self-reliance, prioritising local and regional markets before expanding to global trade partners. China has historically relied on its domestic market during global recessions and India is now following suit by leveraging on its large population.
China’s economic growth was largely driven by and dependent on its own people. While foreign investment was attracted by affordable labour, it was also fuelled by a growing market shaped by local economic developmental policies. This approach fosters development more effectively than relying on foreign investment, as is common in many African countries. Dependence on external funding not only undermines the potential of local citizens but also leaves nations vulnerable to further foreign exploitation.
The resilience of any economy starts with its people. When individuals actively participate in their country’s development, they build strong networks and capabilities to withstand economic challenges. Locally-driven initiatives are more adaptive and innovative, creating solutions tailored to specific regional conditions that centralised foreign-led programmes often overlook.
With Western nations shifting their focus inwards, developing countries can no longer afford to rely on foreign aid and investment as economic pillars. In fact, the return of foreign aid is likely to come with stringent conditions, resembling a form of modern-day colonisation.
The path to sustainable development lies in fostering local innovation, strengthening domestic industries and prioritising self-sufficiency. Only by doing so can African nations build resilient economies that serve their people, rather than remaining perpetually vulnerable to shifts in global politics.
