a bridge over the troubled worlds? or a donor with an identity crisis? : an ethical case for south...
TRANSCRIPT
A bridge over the troubled ‘worlds’? or a donor with an identity crisis? : an ethical case for South Korea aid
Soyeun KimLecturer, Department of East Asian Studies
A high time for ethical questions • Two major views on the rise of ‘emerging’,
‘non-DAC’ donors• However, both are problematic – largely
judging against the current DAC (neoliberal) norms and principles (positively AND negatively) for what they are not! other than what they actually are
• such ways of gazing/ labelling still deeply rooted in the Orientalist view of the world
Three interlinked ethical issues
1. The judgemental gaze 2. Romanticisaiton3. ‘White man’s burden’ = ‘Non-white man’s
frontier or prestige’?
Here comes the questions
• an urgent need for a proper debate on the ‘emerging’ donors moral obligation (if any) to their less fortunate peers
• How and to what extent they claim/fulfil such obligations
• In what form and on what basis such intervention are made
• A case study : South Korea – the latest DAC membership (January 2010) yet still ‘in-betweener’ or a ‘bridge’ over the troubled ‘worlds’
Several contexts that condition Korea’s donorship
1. ‘the only’ country in history - ‘successful’ transition from a recipient to a donor
2. Technically still at war – a divided nation• Aid to North Korea - ‘one-country’ policy: economic
gains first (e.g. Kaesong industrial complex) • Debts’ to the Korean Veteran countries
3. Recently heightened interests in int’l development• Global branding strategy via ODA to move away from
its peripheral image: ‘contributive’ Korea• Media and ‘helping developing countries’ boom
Media – small (often unheard) critical voices within Korea
• Portraying as the Southern local communities as an object of charity and sympathy through images of dirty water, hunger, terror and poverty
• ‘Black/ dark’ continent ?...• new emerging markets with burgeoning
middle-class consumerism ; resource rich frontier with full of business opportunities for Korea
Korea’s view on its ‘moral’ obligation’ to the world
“… a young boy who once stood in line to receive used clothes from foreign missionaries now stands before you as president of the Republic of Korea... I have benefited form other people's compassion… we are now in a position to provide help to those in need … [Our] remarkable achievement goes out to all those who fought for us and for those who helped us when we were in desperate need …. The Korean people who have been through wars and destitution are now prepared to contribute to global peace and prosperity … We are ready to do our part” (Lee 2010, emphasis added).
But… contradicting reality: (1) Humanitarian aid
• the humanitarian aid budget has been frozen at the level of USD 8.1m per annum since 2007 - while the series of aid doubling and tripling announcements in recent years
• Also aid to North Korea as more problems at ‘home’ : ‘distant-decay model of morality’ – wherein charity if it begins at all, begins at home (Cobridge 1998)
• Opinion poll on ODA
Notion of development aid
• History of Post-war reconstruction/ rehabilitation
• The word construction – synonymous with development: Reconstruction Department established in 1955 later became Ministry of Construction in 1961
• Emphasis on economic infrastructure and loans – debt sustainability issues raised by 2008 OECD DAC special review
Korea’s ODA Loan Commitments]2009 Cumulative Total since 1987
Sector Number Amount % Number Amount %
Social Infrastructure 11 281,323 22.2 95 2,257,795 38.1
Education 5 92,092 7.3 22 482,021 8.1
Health 5 130,572 10.3 27 646,808 10.9
Water Supply & Sanitation
1 58,659 4.6 33 894,201 15.1
Government & Civil Society
- - - 13 234,765 4.0
Economic Infrastructure 17 955,794 75.3% 113 3,289,324 55.5%
Transport & Storage 12 755,297 59.5 63 2,097,832 35.4
Communications 3 97,694 7.7 28 582,042 9.8
Energy 2 102,803 8.1 22 609,450 10.3
Production Sectors 1 25,514 2.0 10 216,994 3.7
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing
1 25,514 2.0 10 216,994 3.7
Multisector - - - 3 23,195 0.4
Unallocated 2 7,078 0.6 10 138,674 2.3
Total 31 1,269,709 [1,067.07]
100 231 5,925,982 [5,343.27]
100
Source: EDCF 2009:67 (by sector): as of 31 December 2009 [KRW million
Something Old: from the past experience -- Knowledge Sharing
Programme• A request based comprehensive policy consultation• Sharing Korea’s experience with developing countries
(in key economic areas) – even its bitter experience with IMF! to prosper together
• ‘Sentimental connection’ & ‘emotional consensus’ - friendship first then business later
• Best option to differentiate its aid strategy from CHN, JP – for e.g. Korea- Africa Forum
• KR official aware of the difficulties of ‘transferring’ – different contexts.
• The danger of we know best approach
Something New: DAC membership in pursuit of ‘universal’ values
• Seoul’s sales tactics largely based on Korea’s unique development experience – a relativist position as a donor
• But to “truly contribute” – “needed to build universality”
• ALSO! DAC membership