Marrying Confucianismm, Adam Smith and Applied African Economics....

One could chose any other scholar to compare to Adam Smith. Have chosen Confucius because he represents the East and the rising sun. And where now, almost every country in Africa is scrambling to look to....for hope, inspiration and genuine development cooperation.

Confucius writings emphasize and are dominated by such things like:
-personal and
-governmental morality,
-correctness of social relationships,
-justice and- sincerity.

There is no doubt these are some of the values solely missed by African leaders and their people.

He put the greatest emphasis on the importance of study,[21][22] and it is - study (or learning)[ That should open all our endeavours and drive us to higher accomplishments always.

Note that there are two types of learning or study in life:1.-study/learning at an institution2.-study/learning from other people in various places----- [lifelong and experential learning.]

Of course-discovery is good and important but let us transmit that we have learned/study from others first...

In reading Confucianism sometimes cannot resist asking myself such questions as: "-Is peace created and permanent? What are the factors that can turn a stable and peaceful nation into a warring savagery? -Power Monopoly; degradation, exploitation, oppression and humiliation of section of people; greed; leadership stupidity or cruely; misuse of collective resources; favoritism and nepotism, lack of morals and ethical code of behavior; selection of incompetent and bad people to hold public offices and the likes...

I think Confucius believed that unless the folloing exist it is hard to have a good society:-strong familial loyalty, -worship of our ancestors,- respect of elders by their children (and, according to later interpreters, of husbands by their wives), and- the family as a basis for an ideal government.

I know there are people who are very comfortable when these items get presented in this way. But I offer no apology here. Because, simply there is no shortcut to this for Africa. Follow it you will suceed, discard it and you are lost.
The Confucian theory of ethics is based on three important concepts:-beliefs, anniversaries and ceremonies or what I can call on the preservation of one's culture and traditions.-social and political institutions administration-the daily ongoings of man including interaction and daily behavior. It will do Africa a great deal of good if we at AEEN can discuss this in light of our heavily IMF and WB-influenced economic systems.

I will not talk of 'li' or 'yi' but let me bring to your attention the Confucius principle called 'Ren'-Ren is the virtue of perfectly fulfilling one's responsibilities toward others. Imagine that all leaders, ministers, MPs, Regional Commissioners, Disrtict commissioners, army, police and bureaucrats all could attain the highest stage of 'Ren' what a continent Africa will be? For sadly, the problem in Africa is that no one feels he owes anyone anything. It is free for all, those supposed to serve pretending they are serving the people; those who pay salaries pretending they are paying salaries; and those supposed to work pretending they are working! A situation I call Garbage-in, Garbage-Out [GIGO] Economics!

Kindly remember and let the flame of knowledge in you be rekindled by remembering that it is Confucius who gave us the saying: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

He is also the father of the Golden rules like:'One must always treat others just as one would want others to treat oneself.' Or its alternative "What one does not wish for oneself, one ought not to do to anyone else; what one recognises as desirable for oneself, one ought to be willing to grant to others."

That's all a minor suggestion. The big picture is Africa ready to send its young to China, Korea, Japan, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, India and other non-English speaking countries despite the language barrier to study alternative economics and when they come back to offer Africa new hope?