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Recent
developments in world relations,
communications and trade have suggested
numerous possible development strategies for
LEDCs, whilst the growth of population and
use of resources in these countries have
brought the issue of development to a larger
and more urgent scale. Indeed, various
possibilities, passing from the use of aid,
through that of trade and agriculture to the
advantages enabled by industry have, or are
being used, though the fundamental success of
these methods and directions may be
discussed.
The donation or « transaction » of aid from
the more to the less developed countries has
in the past been freely used as a solution to
underdevelopment and a promoter of economic
growth. Indeed, whether in Brazil, Malaysia
or India, various forms of aid have been
given under different conditions and with
different results. Indeed, though the money
was evidently beneficial to the countries,
negative consequences have by far outnumbered
the positive.
Whilst certain aid, such
as that given by non-governmental
organisations (or NGOs) have often proved
effective, the large majority of aid has
either tied receiving countries economically
to the donating country and give them
preference in trade (such as the highly
criticised case of Britain exchanging aid
with the selling of military equipment) or
the aid has been attached to a growing and
problematic amount of credit. Whilst the
Third World Debt issue is very much present
today, the offer of aid to the more
politically and economically balanced LEDCs
has often lead to the marginalisation of the
poorer countries, numerous factors suggest
that the use of aid as a development strategy
is particularly weak and unadvisable.
The integration of trade and the world market
forms another opening for the development of
many LEDCs. Indeed, it is increasingly
possible and perhaps increasingly desirable
for both MEDCs and LEDCs to open up to the
exchanges which dominate commerce today. The
Pacific Asia area is the perfect illustration
of trade and exchanges with the Triad. Export
directed economies have permitted this,
whilst the existence of comparative
advantages such as cheap labour have proved
attractive factors for the United States or
Japan, anxious to conquer foreign markets and
invest. Multinational Corporations seek to
de-locate firms and use cheaper primary
resources. On the one hand, this strategy may
indeed seem beneficial to all : nations such
as Malaysia, Thailand or Singapore have
indeed emerged through it , and have often
been considered as a model for other LEDCs.
However, it may be suggested that the Asian
model is not a truly « exportable » one.
Numerous coastal regions, good and numerous
resources are advantages not available to
all, such as the Sub-Saharan nations.
Moreover, strategically placed in Japan's
sphere of influence and previously crucial to
the United States , anxious to avoid the
spread of Communism in Asia, both members of
the Triad have helped the emergence of these
nations. In addition to this, the 1998
Economic Crash in their area suggest that the
« model » is perhaps not a strong and
faultless as previously perceived. Trade,
though aiding development through exchanges,
is not a possibility for all LEDCs and
remains a fragile strategy.
The strategic use of
agriculture in LEDCs has often proved an
efficient method and path to development.
Firstly, agriculture and the development of
equipment and trade surrounding it is
generally the initial situation of LEDCs
before the passage to a more industrial base.
The development of agriculture has proved to
be a necessary step for nations desiring
development. Moreover, the use of
biotechnology in the Green Revolution has
formed an essential part of these
developments. Whilst the use of HYVs (High
Yielding Varieties) or MVs (Modern Varieties)
has permitted countries such as India to
multiply their production of grain by six,
the use of this modern technology equally
promotes an increase in education and
knowledge. However, this system is yet again
not faultless : the cost of such methods
marginalise countries unable to risk using
them, the new varieties' gradual
vulnerability to disease as well as the
environmental issues it raises are factors to
be considered. This strategy is therefore
equally debatable.
Finally, the promotion of manufactured
products in LEDCs have often proved the
originator of successful patterns of
development. The production of light industry
such as textiles or the trade of basic
manufactured consumer goods has driven export
directed economies, mass consumption products
and the integration of world markets. The
Triad, for example, are particularly
interested in trade with LEDCs. Foreign
investment and the increasing strength of the
economy through these products have often led
to the development of infrastructures,
education or other services as a nation's
wealth increases (as seen in the Pacific
Asian model). Another aspect of this may be
considered in India, where the use and
production of light industry on a local level
has promoted employment and the gradual
development of various regions. However, the
strategy is also questionable as the trade of
products has and is leading to the dependency
of LEDCs on their trading nations, such as
the Triad. Moreover, as their strategy
increases, the problems of urbanisation and a
polluted environment arise. This seems as
yet, however, the most efficient method for
the development of LEDCs today as trade
becomes the measure of all development.
Therefore, whether through aid, trade, the
use of agriculture or manufactured products,
LEDCs have the possibility of a number of
development strategies, though each of these
do not always apply to particular countries.
It is also increasingly hard for LEDCs under
a certain line of poverty to avoid the
marginalisation which blocks the possibility
of trade. |
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