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Im Netz sozialer Beziehungen: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen lokaler Experten in Afrika
[In the Network of Social Relationships: Potentials and Restrictions of Local Experts in Africa]

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  • Kohnert, Dirk

Abstract

English Abstract: [In the Network of Social Relationships: Potentials and Restrictions of Local Experts in Africa] - In recent years, the demands for greater consideration of local experts in technical and human resources development cooperation are intensifying. However, even the "democratic renewal" of many African states since the beginning of the 1990s, has not changed the underlying socio-cultural network. ‘Traditional’ patronage systems, nepotism and corruption continue to strive. The local experts are still committed to these patronage systems. In the case of a conflict with the norms of the democratic African state, formed according to the Western model, solidarity demands of the local expert’s own "traditional" social reference groups have still priority. Independence, in the sense of a rule of law oriented agency, orientated at the development of the nation, as the Western donor community sets the maxim today, is in these circumstances even more difficult for a local expert to defend than for his foreign counterpart. In addition, most local experts are relatively more focused on outdated development approaches (e.g. conventional modernization theories of technology transfer) than their international counterparts because of their education and class-specific interest. It is therefore to recommend that local and foreign experts cooperate as partners, taking into account the comparative advantage of specific socio-cultural skills of local experts. For example, their special knowledge of local and socio-cultural norms and languages. For this purpose, a new division of labor between local and international experts is essential. French Abstract: [Dans le Réseau des Relations Sociales: Potentiels et Restrictions des Experts Locaux en Afrique] - Ces dernières années, les demandes pour une plus grande considération des experts locaux dans la coopération technique et le développement des ressources humaines locales s'intensifient. Cependant, même le «renouveau démocratique» de nombreux États africains depuis le début des années 1990 n'a pas modifié le réseau socioculturel sous-jacent. Les systèmes de patronage «traditionnels», le népotisme et la corruption continuent. Les experts locaux sont toujours engagés dans ces systèmes de patronage. Dans le cas d'un conflit avec les normes de l'Etat africain démocratique, formé selon le modèle occidental, les revendications solidaires des groupes de référence sociaux "traditionnels" propres à l'expert local restent prioritaires. L'indépendance, dans le sens d'une agence orientée par le droit, orientée vers le développement de la nation, comme la communauté des bailleurs de fonds occidentaux fixe la maxime aujourd'hui, est dans ces circonstances encore plus difficile à défendre pour un expert local que pour son homologue étranger. En outre, la plupart des experts locaux sont relativement plus axés sur des approches de développement obsolètes (par exemple les théories classiques de la modernisation du transfert de technologie) que leurs homologues internationaux en raison de leur éducation et de leur intérêt de class spécifique. Il s'agit donc de recommander que les experts locaux et étrangers coopèrent en tant que partenaires, en tenant compte de l'avantage comparatif des compétences socioculturelles spécifiques des experts locaux. Par exemple, leur connaissance particulière des normes et des langues locales et socioculturelles. A cet effet, une nouvelle division du travail entre experts locaux et internationaux devient essentielle. German Abstract: [Im Netz sozialer Beziehungen: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen lokaler Experten in Afrika] - In den letzten Jahren intensivieren sich die Forderungen nach einer stärkeren Berücksichtigung lokaler Experten in der technischen und personellen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. Selbst die „demokratischen Erneuerung“ vieler afrikanischer Staaten seit dem Beginn der 1990er Jahre hat allerdings wenig daran geändert, dass die tradierten Patronagesysteme, Vetternwirtschaft und Korruption fortdauern. Die lokalen Experten sind diesem Patronagesystem weiterhin verpflichtet. Im Fall eines Konflikts mit den Normen des jungen demokratischen Staates westlichen Musters haben die Solidaritätsforderungen der eigenen "traditionellen" sozialen Bezugsgruppen Vorrang. Unabhängigkeit, im Sinne eines rechtsstaatlichen, an der Entwicklung der Nation orientierten Handelns, wie es heute die westliche Gebergemeinschaft zur Maxime erhebt, ist unter diesen Umständen für einen lokalen Experten noch schwieriger zu verteidigen als für seinen ausländischen Counterpart. Außerdem sind die meisten lokalen Experten auf Grund ihrer Ausbildung und ihres schichtspezifischen Interesses relativ stärker an überholten Entwicklungskonzepten (z. B. an konventionellen Modernisierungstheorien des Technologietransfers) ausgerichtet als ihre internationalen Kollegen. Empfehlenswert wäre daher eine partnerschaftliche Zusammenarbeit lokaler und ausländischer Experten, die den besonderen Fähigkeiten lokaler Experten Rechnung trägt. Zum Beispiel deren besondere Kenntnis lokaler und soziokultureller Normen und Sprachen. Zu diesem Zwecke erscheint eine neue Arbeitsteilung zwischen lokalen und internationalen Experten sinnvoll.

Suggested Citation

  • Kohnert, Dirk, 1994. "Im Netz sozialer Beziehungen: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen lokaler Experten in Afrika [In the Network of Social Relationships: Potentials and Restrictions of Local Experts in Africa]," MPRA Paper 83763, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 16 Apr 1995.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:83763
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kohnert, Dirk & Elwert, Georg & Bierschenk, Thomas, 1993. "The long-term effects of development aid - Empirical studies in rural West Africa," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 47(1), pages 83-111.
    2. Kohnert, Dirk, 1995. "New Markets for Local Experts in Africa?," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 63-74.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Development Planning; Expert Systems; Socio-cultural Dimension; Local Experts; International Experts; Sub-Saharan Africa; Development Cooperation; Local Culture;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations
    • O2 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy
    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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