Going it all alone

Africa has been faced with domestic policy reforms which are political and economic in their nature. These reforms have been emanating from outside the continent. The Washington Consensus’ trio of organizations such as: The World Bank, The World Trade Organisation and International Monetary Fund have arrogated themselves the authority to impose the neoliberal paradigm, functions and mechanisms in African countries domestic policies through using Structural Adjustment Programs (Later changed to ’Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers’). This relationship between these Multilateral institutions owned by Developed countries and commanding African countries has been perpetuated and been able to continue due to African countries’ membership to these institutions. These countries are financially dependent on the institutions and accept the reforms as a conditionality. This research aims to explore if it is possible for African countries to delink from the neoliberal paradigm. It argues that the international economy’s connectedness, interdependence and Africa’s membership to these institutions are inhibiting factors in achieving this goal.