The North-South dialogue and economic security

Abstract

Be it Zimbabwe or EI Salvador, Pakistan or Abu Dhabi, all the third world countries mentioned in this report highlight the multiplicity of links that exist between development and economic security at both world and regional levels. In this regard, their only original feature is the harsh spotlight cast by today’s situation on the universal relationship between economics and strategy. It would be hard to find a country that will not sooner or later be affected by the answers that may be found to a multitude of development issues, ranging from the difficulties encountered by countries at the top of the income ladder in defining the ultimate goals of their oil-financed development through the political destabilization fostered by development failures in Central America to the quest for genuine independence, which is the central objective of the landlocked countries of Africa. If the world is to achieve long-term economic security, the internal and external strains created by the massive need for development will have to be resolved. The North-South dialogue should be playing a key role in this process, but, sadly, it is far from doing so.