HISTORICALLY, small and poor countries have always had tremendous difficulties

in getting issues affecting them on the international agenda, because the rich and powerful countries have clout which is propelled by financial and economic power and military might. They also use foreign aid as a manipulative tool to have developing countries tow the desired line.
But while this is true, developing countries to a large extent have to share some of the blame for this situation, because instead of adopting a collective approach on common issues affecting them, many of them have adopted an individual approach because of opportunism. Consequently, at the international level, they speak with a divided voice and this obviously weakens their position much to their detriment.
The powerful countries also capitalise on and exploit the disunity among the developing countries to get some of these countries to adopt positions on international issues that they would like to have.
However, in more recent times many developing countries have come to realise the importance of adopting a collective approach in dealing with international issues which have a bearing on them and this stance is being now advocated by many leaders in the developing world.
One of the more proactive and militant group of countries, the ACP, has been one of the successful advocates of issues affecting the developing world.
“The ACP Group has a long and rich history defining its relations with the outside world and the former colonial powers after independence… In the new century the ideas and conception of cooperation is changing in a fundamental way and it can no longer be based on traditional dividing lines of established realities. This means that this exploration of the future of the ACP should go beyond the set paths, even though its historic achievements must inform the direction ahead”, according to Professor Van Reisen.
It is against this background that the recent call for solidarity among ACP countries by our Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is pertinent.
She voiced this opinion at the 7th Summit of ACP Heads of State & Governments on ‘The status of the ACP Group towards 2012 and beyond’, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, last week.
Ms. Rodrigues-Birkett declared that “the disarray of the financial markets; the challenges associated with climate change; food and energy security; migration and geo-political alignments; and tendencies of fragmentary forces that are trying to erect protectionist barriers in trade.”
She waxed adamant in declaring that some countries which aim to reinforce exclusive spheres of influence, while paying lip service to rules-based trade really want to impose conditions that give access to [our] markets, but little in return for [our] development.”
Against this backdrop, she cautioned the Heads that, “these challenges should alert us in the ACP to strengthen solidarity around common causes.”
Warning that solidarity and unity of the ACP cannot be a message of convenience, she emphasised: “It has to be demonstrated and deepened in practice through intra-ACP cooperation at the political level; in trade and investment; in effectively using development assistance to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); by cultural, scientific and technological cooperation.”
She, however, expressed optimism that the outcome of the deliberations would resonate with clear political commitments beneficial to the poor, hungry and exploited all across the Global South.
The Foreign Minister is totally correct. Developing countries have divorced their respective national interests from that of the collective. The time has come when they need to rally together in the interest of all developing countries.