Last summer I wrote about the definition of development after having a conversation with an incredible Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana who was really making the most of his time and abilities. The conversation that we had really made me think about the term 'development' and what it really means.

Call for Papers:

SCOUT BANANA, in conjunction with Michigan State University's African Studies Center and Office of International Development, invites you to submit a manuscript to Articulate: Undergraduate Scholarship Applied to International Development.

Articulate is a new undergraduate scholarly journal that publishes academic papers and writings (research papers, field work, interviews, etc.) on issues in international development, focusing primarily on African studies and healthcare issues. Articulate seeks to educate, motivate, and activate the public about its mission and vision working towards solutions for Africa's healthcare crisis.

I was amazed during one of my dates when the young woman asked me if everything I plan goes the way I planned. I was surprised because I always thought, hey I planned and why shouldn’t go the way I planned. Obviously, this is my idealism cashing in but I have always believed in Winston Churchill when he said that the empires of the future are in the minds of men and  the idea that the future belongs to those who imagine it.

The Changing Times: The World From 1990-2000

The purpose of this investigation is to empirically investigate the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in Bostwana and Zambia with economic growth being seen through an expansion in trade as well as Gross Domestic Product for the respective countries from 1990-2000. The motivation for the investigation of the presence of foreign investments and the relationship they have to economic growth is a result of debates within the field of economics regarding the role that foreign investments play in a economy. Scholars have explored the topic with some focusing on statistical evidence ( 0L’ 1922, Hou 1965) while others provide the theoretical frameworks through which foreign investments have been viewed( Rothgeb 1996).

 Starvation: The Role of Agri-business

 The Red Dragon; The Attack Of Asian Capital  in American CapitalMarkets   

In the early days of African discovery soldiers, missionaries, and explorers led the way towards the attempted understanding of and preceding conquest of Africa. This push came from the world powers of the day in Western Europe - now we see a new wave of settlers moving in on the African continent. However, this exodus should not be a surprise. Lured by the increase in wealth, property, and life style, Chinese migrants are starting new lives in Africa. Approved by the Beijing government, the migrants are involved in agriculture reform, construction (which is a huge Chinese business in Africa), and trade.

Harry S. Truman Scholarship Policy Proposal by: Alex B. Hill

Problem Statement

International development is a vast and complex issue. With over 18 million people dying each year from the lack of development assistance in health infrastructure something new needs to be done. Within the US there is a trend that foreign aid dollars are coming more from private NGOs and nonprofits as opposed to official government agencies. For so many years international development was tackled in simplified single-issue campaigns, which only created any effect in the short-term. This can be attributed to the fact that most Americans have a limited worldview. Most Americans have not traveled internationally, especially to developing countries. Therefore international development issues remain remote and abstract to most Americans. International development is a long-term issue. It is inherently complex and difficult to understand. There is no single enemy, and outcomes are rarely clear-cut or translatable through numbers.