Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former president of Brazil.

Text and photo: Bernardo Rebello

It has often been said that money is not the best way to help needy countries all over the world. There are those who also say that there is a lack of sustainable projects and local qualified staff to pull all the countries in need of aid out their eternal crisis. One of the reasonable answers for those affirmations is that there is no way to support those who do not want to help the others. If the authorities of those needy countries are not willing to give the example, avoiding corruption and establishing a fairer government, the solutions for their problems will only be for the short term.

It is reasonable to say that a lot of the crises on nations needing aid are linked with the relations they had, and have, with European settlers. Nevertheless, it is certain that the globalized world, and the growing interdependence among the countries, are pushing forward the agenda for a more balanced world, with more financial possibilities to overcome the tragedies of imperialism. If that intent is not valued and planned as something that could build a sustainable project, it will be hard to avoid a systemic crisis and never-ending tragedies.

Democracy is not something you can forge out of nowhere. Even in ancient Greece there were those who could not exercise their rights. One curious example of how complex this issue can be today is observed in the way democracy is working in South Africa. According to Stephen Freedman, specialist in Democracy studies, the high level of corruption in that country can be explained because politics is the easier and most probable way that black men can gain power, respect and money in South Africa. I do not think that this rationalization serves only to explain the corruption in South Africa and I also believe that this transcends the logic of race issues there and elsewher.

Undoubtedly, if you do not give the opportunity to social mobility, corruption will always be one major path to survive, gain and cocentrate power. There is much to share in the international community, and the countries that already achieved a great level of susteinable development  have the obligation to participate, share, and teach the others that did not went through, or completed, this process. However, if the government of any nation is unwilling, or incapable of maintaining an atmosphere of stability, it can be groundless investment to make. Not to mention the danger that there is in offering finance support for governments that do not have the capacity to honor their promises.