Development Policy in the Cold War Era : The Two Germanies and Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960-1985

"The book critically compares the ideological claims with the reality of aid and trade relations between two highly industrialized states, the FRG and the GDR, and sub-Saharan Africa. Based on extensive research in both Germanies, the study shows that these aid and trade relations were always subordinated to the narrow economic and geopolitical interests of the donor countries. Even the competing development models advocated by the East and the West were ultimately more a reflection of self-interest than a desire to help in the self-sustaining growth of the Third World. Neither bloc sought to change the existing international divison of labor nor to improve the terms of trade for the Third World. With the end of the Cold War, development aid relations will also gradually come to an end. This book shows why this may not be as disastrous for the Third World as is generally assumed. Brigitte H. Schulz is Professor for Political Science at the Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut (USA). "