Question
“The impact of UN specialized agencies in African countries has been limited.” With reference to two UN specialized agencies, to what extent do you agree with this statement?
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that the impact of their chosen two UN specialized agencies in African countries has been limited. Candidates may elect to compare and contrast the impact of their chosen agencies; however there is no prescribed method. Candidates are required to reach a balanced judgment.
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Limited success:
- The mixed record of agencies such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in assisting African countries to achieve sustained economic growth, and their weakening of the basis of some national economies through the enforcement of structural adjustment programmes.
- The limited success of the World Health Organization (WHO) in assisting African governments to address the AIDS pandemic.
- Factors such as limited funding and governmental interference and obstruction, which hampered the work of a number of agencies.
Success:
- The role of agencies such as the WHO and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in improving healthcare on the continent through campaigns aimed at eradicating illnesses such as malaria, tuberculosis and smallpox, and in improving childcare through immunization programmes.
- Developmental assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and economic loans from the World Bank and the IMF.
- Work of agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme in tackling the issues of malnutrition and famine, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in assisting refugees from areas of conflict.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
“The Cold War had significant consequences for stability in Africa.” With reference to two countries, to what extent do you agree with this statement?
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that the Cold War in Africa had significant consequences for stability in Africa with reference to any two countries of their choice. Some candidates may elect to address this via comparisons and contrasts; however no method is prescribed and any appropriate approach is equally acceptable. Nevertheless, a supported judgment is expected.
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- There may be discussion of the intervention of different Cold War powers, for example the US, USSR, China and Cuba in different African countries.
- The result of superpower involvement in different African countries, with conflict occurring in some but not in others is also relevant. In some cases conflicts were even worsened.
- The different types of conflict that resulted from superpower intervention, with civil wars occurring in some cases (for example Congo and Angola) while regional wars between neighbouring states supported by rival superpowers were the result in others (for example the Ogaden War between Ethiopia and Somalia).
- There were also huge levels of military support provided to African governments in some cases (for example by the USSR in Ethiopia).
- Developmental aid was sometimes provided as a reward for siding with a particular Cold War power.
- The willingness of some superpowers to prop up corrupt or dictatorial regimes for ideological reasons and turn a blind eye to human rights abuses (for example Congo and Ethiopia).
- There was political destabilization in some countries due to the interference of superpowers or their proxies (for example, Mozambique).
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
To what extent did the structure of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) affect the achievement of its aims?
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates need to demonstrate knowledge of both the structure and aims of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) up until its reconstitution as the African Union (AU) in 2002. They should address how the structure has either helped or hindered the ability of the Organisation to achieve its aims. It is important that candidates do not just give an explanation of the structure and list its aims, but synthesize the two. Candidates may also discuss the specialized agencies of the OAU and illustrate how these assisted in the achievement of various aims.
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• The main policy-making organ of the OAU was the Assembly of the Heads of States and Government. This is important because any key decisions affecting a country had to be made through this group. However, the Assembly worked most effectively when there was consensus among member states, which was rare, and it only met once a year.
• The Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution helped in dealing with security issues among member states. Peacekeeping missions had varied degrees of success. However, one of the founding principles of the OAU was that of non-interference in the affairs of member states, and this could make the task of conflict prevention and resolution difficult.
• Another aim of the OAU was to defend the sovereignty of the African states and to promote territorial integrity. Despite the intervention of outside powers in the affairs of some countries, such as in Angola, the organization was more successful in achieving these aims.
• The other aim of the OAU was to eradicate all forms of colonialism. The OAU used various methods, including sanctions, to push colonial powers to grant independence. However, the importance of the OAU in achieving decolonization is debatable.
• The OAU attempted to promote human rights through the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. However, its success in this area was limited.
• Another aim of the OAU was to settle disagreements among member states. The Commission of Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration was used successfully to settle some disputes among member states, although the opposition of some members and a lack of funding curtailed its effectiveness.
• The emergence of regional and ideological blocs within the OAU led to problems in decision making and hindered the ability of the OAU to achieve some of its key objectives, including greater political and economic unity. To support this, candidates can discuss the existence of the Brazzaville, Casablanca and Monrovia groups, which pre-dated the founding of the OAU.
• Candidates can also discuss weaknesses in the OAU Charter which made it difficult for the organisation to enforce its decisions.
• The lack of a proper financial structure weakened the OAU’s capacity to promote development on the continent.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Compare and contrast the regional impact of the East African Community and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates will focus their responses on identifying similarities and differences in the regional impact of the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the period between 1967 (when the EAC was created) and 2000. Their focus on the EAC should not extend beyond 1978, the year in which the organization was formally dissolved.
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Comparisons
• The impact of each organization was limited due to internal rivalries between its member states. The EAC was hampered by tensions between Tanzania and the other two members, while the impact of ECOWAS has been limited by divisions between Anglophone and Francophone countries and suspicions that Nigeria was attempting to dominate the organization.
• Both organizations were at least partially successful in promoting economic growth and cooperation in their region. The EAC was created as a customs union and common market, while ECOWAS members signed the Cotonou Treaty in 1980. This committed them (at least in theory) to the establishment of a common trading market and currency. ECOWAS also established the regional bank Ecobank, which acted as a spur to economic development in West Africa.
• Both organizations were successful in developing transport and communications and both tended to concentrate on economic cooperation rather than promoting political union. Their achievements in the latter area were therefore minimal.
Contrasts
• Despite its many problems, ECOWAS has remained intact as an organization since its founding in 1975. The EAC failed to withstand the intensifying rivalries between its members (between Kenya and Tanzania over their differing economic systems, and between Tanzania and Uganda over Tanzanian support for Ugandan rebel forces) and it broke up in 1977, just ten years after its creation.
• Regional cooperation between ECOWAS member states tended to increase gradually over the course of the period. In contrast, many of the early achievements of the EAC had been undone by the mid-1970s as a result of the tension between its member states.
• ECOWAS achieved a major success when it created a peacekeeping force (ECOMOG) to intervene in war-torn Liberia in 1990. Contrastingly, deteriorating relations between Tanzania and Uganda contributed to the break-up of the EAC, and subsequently Tanzanian military intervention to help topple Idi Amin in 1979.
• ECOWAS benefited from the membership of Nigeria, an oil-rich state, and has enhanced its ability to achieve some of its objectives. The EAC enjoyed no such luxury.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so