ABSTRACT
As the 21st century dawns and multinational corporations increasingly turn to new technologies-satellite navigation systems, cybernetics, and telemetric-to enhance business relations and expand financial markets across tangible and cyber borders, wealthy and politically powerful nation-states have been handling diplomatic activities with considerable success. The same does not refer to regions with fragile democracies and weak economies, as they have been preoccupied with forming partnerships among local, regional and international organizations to address pressing socioeconomic problems. Any partnership that addresses strategies for the eradication poverty, the placement of nations in a network of sustainable growth and development, the reconstruction of a nation’s global image and enhancement of its integration into the global economy deserves special attention in social science research. This is the sort of relationship recently conceived in Africa two years ago-the strategic framework of African government leaders, business executives and development experts. Following a mandate at the 37th summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in July 2001, to the Heads of State of Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa to develop an integrated socio-economic development framework for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), a program of action
for the redevelopment of Africa was implemented in October 2001. This partnership is set up with institutions in developed countries whereby African countries will monitor standards of good government across the continent whilst respecting human rights and advancing democracy in return for increased aid flows, private investment, and a lowering of obstacles to trade by the West.
