Development in Southern Africa

Obstacles in the way of sustainability

Abstract

It is well known that the world has become globalised due to growing economic, political, social and cultural integration and interdependence among states. Several kinds of cultural diffusions have contributed to this situation and to the five-fold expansion of the global economy in the last four decades. It could therefore be expected that the quality of life of especially the least industrialised nations in the world would have been improved. However, economic forces of globalisation are moving toward greater inequality among states. This has become at least one of the reasons why many people in Africa are experiencing severe poverty and live on less than one US dollar a day. In addition to poverty, various other negative factors contribute to the lack of sustainable development in Africa: a lack of competitiveness and democracy, high population growth, HIV/AIDS, deficient leadership and war.
Using a functionalist conceptual model, the purpose of this article is to alialyse the said issues that inhibit sustainable development in primarily South Africa. Sustainable development means the fulfilment of the functions of adaptation, goal attainment, integration as well as pattern maintenance and tension management. The role that South Africa could play in the sustainable development of the Southern Africau Development Community (SADC) region will also be discussed.