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Day 30 – Q 5. What should be of greater concern for a statesman- national prestige or human development? Substantiate with the help of suitable illustrations

5. What should be of greater concern for a statesman- national prestige or human development? Substantiate with the help of suitable illustrations. (Hint: Should the President of a Sub-Saharan African state receive international aid for its hungry and poor populace from an enemy country?)

एक राजनेता के लिए राष्ट्रीय प्रतिष्ठा या मानव विकास में से ज्यादा महत्त्वपूर्ण क्या होना चाहिए? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की मदद से पुष्टि करें। (संकेत: क्या एक अफ्रीकी देश के राष्ट्रपति को दुश्मन देश से भूखी और गरीब जनसंख्या के लिए अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सहायता प्राप्त करनी चाहिए?)

Statesman is an experienced politician who is appreciated for taking good judgements for the benefit of his people, however even he is faced with dilemma many times when he has to make a decision either based on national prestige or human development.

National interest need to be of greater concern for statesman because

1) Aids come with caveat and can be withdrawn by the country which provides them at will.

2) The statesman act of accepting aid would not be appreciated by his own country and create issues for him.

Human development is more important for statesman

  • A nation which has good Human development can work harder for its national prestige

Ex: Japan after the attack by USA in 1945 accepted their aid for reconstruction

A wise statesman is the one who works for both improving human development and also national prestige simultaneously without compromising on any of them.

Best Answer: Jay

Human development may refer to population’s educational, health and well-being levels. National prestige is the perception of a country based on its hard and soft powers, economic growth etc.

National prestige achieved by bypassing human development is unsustainable as seen by resource rich but poor human development economies such as Nigeria, Brazil etc.

1) Problem with accepting aid

International aid is applied with caveats. The donor country asks for preferential treatment including access to mineral rights, political influence etc. that are worth more than the actual aid.

It is for this reason India refuses foreign aid. (Kerala Floods)

The aid might feed a few people, but then what? Also local corruption consumes foreign aid.

The core issues of illiteracy, poverty, disease etc. remain and the country is back to seeking aid in short order.

3) Better approaches

A better approach would be for the statesman to ask other countries to invest in roads, schools, hospitals, etc. These have long term benefits to both the donor and the done.

For example: China develops Africa’s infrastructure and in return gets access to resources.

The wise statesman would seek to create national prestige by pursuing human development. If he can achieve this in a mutually beneficial way, his ‘enemies’ become allies.

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