Why Foreign Aid Is Hurting Africa – WSJ.com

Civil clashes are often motivated by the knowledge that by seizing the seat of power, the victor gains virtually unfettered access to the package of aid that comes with it.

Indeed, why bother building a business? Just run the country and literally be in charge of the biggest business that extends from border to border… Africa and many Asian “democracies” are literally just that. It just depends on who gets the shorter end of the stick. At least in Asia it’s been largely peaceful and economic progress has sunk into many parts of the society such that people are largely agnostic to the political battles going on as they’d rather hang on to a good standard of living.

In my travels to SouthEastAsian states like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, it seems that many of the political support comes from outside the capital. The people from the villages and so on who seem to be most concerned about their politics whereas the relatively wealthier city-denizens simply go about their economic activities with little concern.