Panel discusses issue of debt relief for developing nations
By NICOLE HADDAD
News Writer
In celebration of Intercultural Studies week, the Intercultural Studies Program at Saint Mary's offered students an opportunity to learn more about the state of debt in third world countries through a panel discussion directed by Mark Belanger, professor of political science. The issues discussed centered on why overseas loans the U.S. makes should concern citizens and people of faith.
Belanger began by addressing the danger in focusing in on the debt process. It is necessary to first define what developing countries are, which he explained as countries who are immaturely developed and less industrialized.
"This has been a problem for the United States for a long time, at least since World War II," Belanger said, "and the problem has not gotten essentially better."
Belanger discussed ways the International Monetary Fund (IMF) organization deals with helping countries with payment problems to get loans until the exports are paid off.
"The IMF tends to have visible representation of the national community," Belanger said. "It is a symbol of the people and a representation of understanding the production of development."
According to Belanger, debt helps in the understanding of third world development and is a logical extension. "The principle wisdom is bringing capital to third world countries and building a western style economy," Belanger said. "Bringing in technology will lead to an increase in economic growth," he said.
Belanger said one pervasive problem in third world countries is the level of borrowing does not allow countries to keep up with the growing gap between the rich and poor. He explained that there are two aspects of this problem. One is that the free market philosophy can be a "medicine."
"This solution will solve the problems of the third world, however it hasn't economically worked because it pulls people to cities, leading to massive urbanization." Belanger said.
"The second aspect of the problem is that the state will be held accountable. Citizens have a sense of their own political agency and can make their own changes," Belanger said.
Belanger emphasized that breaking the chain of debt in developing countries involves working with the people in order to understand what the problems are. "These are high tech answers," said Belanger.
Ways of working with the poor are first, to realize that the concept of development doesn't change and second, encouraging global exchange.
Katie Poynter, junior philosophy major, discussed her experiences as an intern in Uganda last semester. "The problem I encountered was that children in school don't have parents with an education," she said, "there is no support system."
Right now Uganda is looking for funding to aid the development of educational facilities. "Developmental money comes from the outside and influences how programs take shape," Poynter said.
"I feel that education is ongoing and makes parents see that they have a role," she said.
Poynter commented on what she discovered in Uganda made her realize what many people take for granted in the U.S. "I never realized that there are homeless shelters and social services everywhere," she said. "There are none in these third world countries because the government does not have the money."
"You see people with extreme disabilities and there's no where for them to go," Poynter said.
Maureen Capillo, junior English writing major and justice education minor, discussed the social movement, and how the IMF is trying to reform the problem in the widening gap between the rich and poor. "Humans rights groups are trying to fix them and they realize it's a lot bigger than simply fixing a sweatshop," Capillo said.
All News Stories for Thursday, March 23, 2000
