Löki Gale’s Comments (group member since Sep 19, 2010)

Löki Gale’s comments from the Sustaining Development group.

Welcome everyone to an online discussion of Guns, Germs, and Steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years.

This online discussion will go in 6 parts:
Preface & Prologue
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Epilogue & Wrap-up

This week's discussion is on the Preface & Prologue.

Starting the conversation, Diamond asks the questions:
1. Why weren't Native Americans, Africans, and Australian Aboriginals the ones that subjugated and suppressed Europeans & Asians?

2. Why did human development proceed at different rates on different continents?

3. Do the answers to these questions justify colonization?

4. Why is it easy to assume that people from these (aforementioned) countries are less intelligent than Europeans & Asians?

Any takers on trying to answer these questions before we get to the meat of part 1?

If you need me to pick ..."

Ah! Thank you so much. I actually just sent out an email asking a few of my in-country PCV friends to see if they have any of these books. For some reason, PCVs carry a ton of non-fiction on us when we enter a country :) Also, I think a few people are working up to taking the State exam (for Foreign Service), which may work in my favor!

The even better news is that I should be going home for a month soon that I plan to hit up the used book stores in Anchorage to find everything my heart has desired (and I want to buy a Nook!)

That is probably more information than you needed...

Ah! That is what I am looking for...commentary on the Marshall plan! Thank you. I will look these books up at the bookstore next time I am in the States!

Kevin wrote: "Hi Loki,

Nice to meet you!

Kevin"

Kevin! Nice to meet you too!

Specifically...specifically...well, that is a great question...I am possibly looking for critiques on US foreign aid to developing countries (past and present - such as what exactly happened with the Marshall Plan and why does the US think it was such a great experiment that they keep doing it everywhere else)...or even China's foreign aid to Africa and how that has been organized....

So...yeah. That? Is that clear. I feel like I am being unclear....

lgt

All right. Anyone got a good book on foreign aid?

People are too busy finding out what Kate Middleton is going to wear at her wedding.

...have you read Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein?

From what I understand - or at least I read - it is a similar situation. The aid going into African countries often contributes more to the economic problems of the countries. Corrupt governments pilfer the money, the lack of infrastructure does not allow for monies to be used for sustainable ventures or even get to the markets, and often aid monies have strings and debt attached that do not allow the people to decided where the money should go.

It just sounds like a crappy situation.

Looking for a book or two that defines and describes colonialization...any suggestions?

Sarah..." You definitely need to pick up this book then. It is really small, but it takes a bit to read though the numbers. It is an assigned reading for one of my RD courses - pretty...opposite of popular theory.

I am about to read this book for the second time. I remember feeling like my eyes were being open for the first time when I started it, but now, I am a little hesitant. Any suggestions on what to focus on this time around?

So, I have read Dead Aid...any other suggestions on similar-esq books?

Anyone know of a couple good econ books that focus on economic growth in developing countries?