Wilfred I. Ukpere

Demise of a single orthodoxy and the possibility of a cooperative economy

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to postulate the possibility of a cooperative economic system within the current global crisis, because it is only determined government action, which is orchestrated by a strong sense of true nationalism that can limit the worst effects of the current global economic meltdown. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is a meta-analysis, which relied on secondary sources of information. It is a qualitative study that is based on conceptual analysis and theory building. It considers a global action from an “emic” perspective (authors viewpoint). Findings - Triumphant capitalism, which heralded the dawn of globalisation, made neo-liberalists proclaim the death of socialism, along with its positive variants namely, free education, minimum wage, employment creation, health care and so on. However, the perceived triumph of a single orthodoxy seems to have demoted growth of global prosperity. For example, more than 1.1 billion people across the globe are poor, while more than three billion of the global populace have drifted deeper into poverty and more than a billion people across the globe are starve regularly. The current state of affairs has increased the rate of global crimes, which is reflected by the scale of congested jails. A casino economy of speculation has currently failed humankind. Indeed, current failure of capitalism to address wider problems of humankind such as unemployment, inequality, oppression, poverty, food shortages and economic crises, will resurrect the question as to whether socialism is indeed dead as proclaimed by neo-liberals. Thus, since a single (triumphant capitalism) orthodoxy has failed to address those mounting problems that have excluded a majority of humanity from participating in sharing global prosperity, the assertion that socialism is dead, has become redundant and, the possibility of a vibrant cooperative economy is imminent. Practical implications - Socialism has failed and capitalism has failed woefully. Hence, the only hope that is left, is a renaissance of positive socialist variants, in order to resuscitate capitalism. Therefore, a cooperative economic ideological order is urgently required within the current global crisis. It is only determined government action, which is orchestrated by a strong sense of true nationalism that can put a limit to the worst effects of the current global economic meltdown. Therefore, the state cannot continue to be a passive onlooker of economic mismanagement and industrial cacophony, because humans, in search of peace and progress, have surrendered their sovereign identity to the state. The state is, indeed, a fine product of human civilisation, and should be an authoritative supreme power – the actual sovereign, which has to formulate and execute the will of the people, while stimulating private initiatives toward the realisation of a dynamic cooperative economy. Originality/value - The paper is original and will be valuable not only to policy makers but also to humankind in general within a turbulent global economy.

HIV/AIDS and the Productivity of Selected Sub-Saharan African Regions

More than 42 million people around the world are currently infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Ojukwu, 2004). Although new cases of HIV/AIDS infections have declined in most developed countries, the virus has spread rapidly through much of the developing world. In some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, one in four adults is infected with the virus (Saloner, 2002). Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) comprises a collection of symptoms and infections, which result from specific damage to the immune system as a result of HIV. Latter stages of the condition leave individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumours (Arnett 2001; UNAIDS, 2004). Most European researchers believe that HIV originated from sub-Saharan Africa. Although this allegation may appear to be libellous, sub-Saharan Africa has become one of the worst affected regions (UNAIDS, 2003). An estimated 38.6 million people currently live with the disease worldwide (Nunn, Baggaley, Melby & Thomas, 2004). According to the joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2006), HIV/AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981, which makes it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. HIV/AIDS has claimed an estimated 2.4-3.3 million lives, of which more than 570,000 were children in 2005 (WHO, 2006). Almost one third of the deaths accruing to HIV/AIDS, occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. This development has adversely impacted on economic growth and human capital development within this region. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both mortality and morbidity regarding HIV infection, however, routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries (WHO, 2003). HIV/AIDS stigma is more severe than that associated with other life-threatening conditions and extends beyond affected individuals, care providers and even volunteers who are involved with caring for people who live with the disease (Salati, 2004). Evidently, the physical size of a country, its population and its national income level per head, are important determinants of economic potentiala major factor, which differentiates one country from another. A country’s potential for economic growth is influenced by its