I think it's great that you've posted this. Both the background report and the transcript of the interview with Dr. Ayittey are very worthwhile.

Dr. Ayittey makes so many good points. A couple that stood out: Moyers asked Dr. Ayittey why his passion about corruption and disarray in Africa and Ayittey answered that if offends his dignity as an African. The second was that he points to Botswana's success being rooted in African tradition.

As I learn more about Africa, I'm very ignorant, this African dignity has interested me. It seems a little different from the way Americans, well me at least, think of it. It's subtle and not at all sure I get it, but it seems rooted in the fact that across Africa people are more aware of their important roles within the community.

Much is made about the difference between parts of the United States in violent crime. Some have pointed to "a culture of honor" in the South. There's a whole theory of settlement patterns where the early settlers of New England came form farming regions and southern settlers coming from herding regions--farmers and herders. Of course it's more complicated than that and certainly in Africa--a big continent with 54 countries and many, many more cultures--there are similar divides. My persecption about African dignity is really superficial, but it's this: dignity is maintained by how much a person gives to the community. In other words my general view is that the concept of dignity is more closely related to the communitarian impulse in the USA versus the "culture of hornor" impulse.

Clearly there's much more going on, evidenced by Dr. Ayittey dealing with the collapse of so many countries and pointing to the "big man" (not his words) meme idea running away.

The success of Botswana lies in the African roots of markets and participatory democracy. That resonates with me.

His perscription emphasises a free press. But only 8 countries there now have a free press. Computers and the Internet have such great potential there. Ayittey points to Eastern Europe. Maybe not the best example, but being Wired was a key part of Serbia taking down the horrendous fascisit regime.

I'm so ignorant when it comes to technology. But I'm convinced that efforts like Juice's to empower Africans politically and econmically through spreading computer and Internet access are really important. Let's try together to work on this.