Paul Collier's new rules for rebuilding a broken nation

[crudhousefull]

Well...the UN has been in existence for quite some time. Is there any place in the world where they have been successful in implementing these strategies? Donor countries use the UN a a means of infiltration. Many examples of UN officials smuggling in arms to the North and East of Sri Lanka for the LTTE during its 30 year existence. No great revelation that conflicts fester when the mediator's main goal is regional destrabilization.

[poplpopl12345]

wow this guy has a point.....

but extremely boring.........i have heard boring......

[gordinidesigns]

Thank you Paul for your efforts for us All.

Dallas, Texas

[socdaal]

great idea ...

[fruitsofnews]

So thats the solution: Competition among the broken! My opinion: Epistemologically flawed, practically nefarious thinking. Very systematic but infantile analysis in social/human terms.

[BrutusAlbion]

lol basicly he's saying the UN should do its work properly. He's right but he has wishful thinking hehe. Thats not in the interest of the UN. Everyones in there to push their own agenda...*rolls eyes* not to find some mutual agenda together...

[anotherelvis]

It sounds good. But I would like to hear about examples of countries where this approach has been tried.

[njohan81]

The only thing i liked was "Cleen goverment" thats all you need, but that seems imposible, and thats sad, an answere to that is .... i wont say :-)

[GlobalKyro]

Wishful thinking

[LourdesAB]

On the positive side, check out - Katherine Fulton's talk titled "You are the future of philanthropy". And it's not just about money. In spite of the difficulties encountered day to day, it's in mutual support that we prosper. We've got to see beyond our front door, no matter in how small a way. Every act is significant.

[zonsb]

There's a vast difference between law and legal. It is unlawful to initiate force/violence, threat of force or fraud against any person or their property. Government has a legal monopoly on the initiation of force, fraud and coercion. It is legal, yet unlawful.

When do you want initiation of force/violence, fraud or coercion inflicted against your body or property?

It boggles the mind. How is it that if man is incapable of self governing that he is capable of governing others?

[dorotwhy]

Post-conflict recovery= Make-up sex

[momentinpassing]

Oh yeah, and he might try to fix something that's actually broken. Impoverishment and chaos is the point of conflict. How else could the Afghan herion and it's massive illicit cashflows be justified if not for "chaos" in the region?

[momentinpassing]

The best and brightest tend to either leave or die in war zones both in the run up, during, and shortly after. The resources then are controlled by outsiders with the IMF and other means used to gut the area of any remaining wealth and place a heavy debtload on the populace paying interest in foreign fiat currency on the rebuilding of infrastructure that typically foreigners destroyed. This guy said so little in his first minute, I'm not going to waste my time unless I hear he has a clue.

[austpom333]

The only thing i recieved from the building industry was an absolute rejection ( i can send anyone a copy ) of any long service leave after 22 years servise. Do not let any son or daugher become a trades man!!!

[austpom333]

The only thing you do is waste your potential in the building industry. Try 22 years of plastering ( drywall ) and then go apply and work in a government job, you'd be surprised how little you develop in the building industry and how much you need to learn. You waste your health - god try having a family and working in the building industry.

[tailgunner2]

That's why I enjoy playing with arcs and sparks (Electrician). Right now, believe it or not, there is a huge green energy push on both the Federal level, and ina few states as well. Here in Mass, the state passed a bill that provides incentives for renewable, right now the most cost effective method is photovoltaics (Solar Panels) Through state programs, there are training seminars available to install such systems, and updated NEC articles that govern it.

[austpom333]

Yep brother the day is coming. Month by month i see more proof. The other day i saw an electric/petrol cop car.

[PKwinsomee]

what are your feelings on that push, tailgunner?

[tailgunner2]

Well, for starters, it's a scam, BUT for once, using greed (Which usually gets us into these messes) to get us out of a mess. Right now, the construction industry is hurting, many contractors around me are all crying there isn't any work. Well, this new PV initiative provides such work that's not only profitable, but it does it's part to cut the need for fossil fuels, and ease power demands from our power plants. Course there are heavy regulations that go with it, but they keep out the crap.

[PKwinsomee]

I liked your answer but I still need some clarification, you said it was a scam but then seemed to enumerate it's virtues after that. Why do you feel it is a scam? Thanks for your answer though, was very informative.

[wackdeafboy]

Solar panels are good for private use such as homes. The future of energy is Nuclear Power.

[austpom333]

In the 22 years i worked in the construction industry never did the government ever understand or correct anything within the industry. They only tryed to get me into the classroom away from my work and pay money. I needed to recieve money not pay it. The construction industry isn't worth the bother, you only waste yourself and surround yourself with fools.

[leppy111]

Yes, I agree - Not only do you wastes your potential, you waste your health as well. My body has prematurely aged because of the harsh demands this industry has placed upon it. Cold and Hot weather, plus the physical demands take their toll.

[cnmaster01]

it isn't worth the bother in a system such as ours not in a decayed rotting corpse of an economy where its the only industry

[austpom333]

Test

[hardcoded]

Please, come lecture in Brazil.

20 years of post-dictatorial proto-democracy and we're still dragging ourselves!

[Mrmoc7]

Brazil is doing quite well relative to some other *coughs* countries.

[Mrmoc7]

Summary

1) Independent service authority intermediates between formal governmental body which has now been relegated to policy enactments alone, and service delivering organizations which must now compete with each other and act as the street-level arm of the government.

2) Emphasis on a robust economy as the real guarantee of security, but until then, and to create a room for private investment, peace-keeping security forces must be present to assure temporary security.

3) Hire accountants.

[Mrmoc7]

Great speaker, great ideas, but as expected, they won't solve everything:

1) In the real world, accountants themselves may be corrupt.

2) If policy makers have power of appointment over independent service authority (ISA) employees, then they'll simply become puppets of the policy makers and corruption will remain unabated.

[Fuliginosus]

I was hoping to see Paul Collier from the sitcom 'Doctor in the House.'

[usedforbattle]

If only we could have built clean goverment in the UK, then the crooks wouldnt have stolen the tax payers money to build swimming pools & rent porn movies!

[Memubitsu]

Many of these Ideas could possibly work in many economic development strategies.

[RenataVentura]

Am I such an utopian that I think maybe local action to get people to know each other better might be a good strategy? (instead of focusing on the big boys: politics, economy, security, etc)

I´ve seen documentaries where palestinian and israeli kids go to camps and easily become friends. And others where they show meetings: israeli kids living for a few weeks with palestinians, and vice-versa. And they all work! Maybe that´s the solution to some problems.

Takes time, but it´s effective.

[gadzometer]

You are brilliant. We must bring society back to individuals. Enforcing one person's perspective on many is what has got us into this mess in the first place.

[Machforr]

As long as money is power and that this power is in the hands of people that STILL want more money, wars and conflicts will always occur.

Wars and conflicts are very profitable to those with the power to buy human flesh to send out to kill with weapons THEY sell.

[colomboBE]

This man is a COMPLEET lunatic.

What if we start form preventing conficts.

Put people in prison for LIFE like

George W Bush and Co. who STARTS conficts.

And people form the CIA with there BLACK-OPS, that overthrow governments and replace them with dictators.

If we can get rit of the criminal US foreign polities than we are save form 90% of ALL conficts.

[BaileysBeads]

Ah so you want coupes on democratically elected governments?

[EveryHumanBeing]

Your missing the point... This is what to do AFTER the conflict, he makes no mention of , or claims about prevention.

You need to LISTEN more.

[bluebeard2]

Because you can't build a house or skyscraper in China and ship it to Iraq. That's how construction isn't an import/export sector. It requires local hands mixing concrete and stacking wet bricks.

[AnonEyeMouse]

'did I miss something or did he say the construction sector is NOT vulnerable to multinational competition? since when?'

His point was that it is a labour intensive industry with lots of jobs (especially after a war) that doesn't rely on exporting goods. Any export based business isn't going to be competitive in a society with a ruined infrastructure. I do see your point about international construction companies but so long as the work is handed out to domestic firms his point stands.

[riceman1230]

Maybe we should apply his ideas to the U.S.

And Ron Paul would have been a much better choice for president.

[JustAManInAMask]

So you would rather have a man who's ideas are depression bringing?

[riceman1230]

Ron's ideas are tough, but they would get us out of the mess we are in. Obama's ideas will triple the deficit and get us nowhere but much worse off.

[JustAManInAMask]

The problems with Dr. Paul's ideas are they are, dare I say it, utopian. Yes it would get rid of taxes, but the class divide would be too large. A division between classes gets society nowhere.

[funnyguise]

explain the division. it's worsening as things are now. do you honestly think it could worsen still with proper reform?

[JustAManInAMask]

I'm stating that letting everything be nationalized, the libertarian idea, would cause a depression. Not only that, but the class divide would be huge. There would be more crime, because less people have money, and soon enough, there would be a revolution.

[goten1201]

nationalization is not "the libertarian idea" you are sadly mistaken.

[JustAManInAMask]

Sorry, privatization was what meant. I was thinking weirdly, but we can't go around doing that, and allowing the rich to abuse the workers.

[funnyguise]

I know what you said but I wanted you to back it up. give some examples, references... proof.

The depression in the 30s came AFTER the FED took over regulation of what was once the right of individual states and people.

The FBI raided a privately owned bank (look up Liberty dollar). How is that good for the economy?

[JustAManInAMask]

The problem with it is it allows companies to hurt people, abuse their customers and employees and no one can do anything about it, unless of course, they take matters into their own hands. We need a better way of working, one that will make people want to make and invent new products, which is why communism failed, no one had the means to do it, but also a way to make sure no one is abused.

[manonthemount]

yea, young men are angry because they have nothing to do. its not because a bunch of foreigners dismantled their nation

[RabidApe]

...or maybe they have nothing to do precisely because a bunch of foreigners dismantled their nation...?

[topstot]

somewhat missing out the putting your own government in charge for personal benefit for the country that started or instigated the conflict...of course if US put their own friends in charge of iraq, there are going to be iraqies that are not goin to enjoy that....this is a post conflict reality that you cant change, the rest is futile, even with jobs and health they will still be angered.

[pinochet222]

who is this lunatic?

The Iraqi oil has just been privatised, Mission Accomplished I guess, so what the fuck he's talking about...

[bluebeard2]

Clearly you were watching a different video.

He implied that the American approach in Iraq is a complete failure of reconstruction.

[BdizzleFaReal]

Recessions have occurred multiple times throughout our history and it affects us negatively. Whatever affects us also affects the government. Recessions occurred before, so obviously need to modify economic policies. It's only logical... if we do the same thing or keep the same policies, we are bound to get the same results. If there isn't anything we can do to economic policy to remove all chances of a recession, then economics or money inevitably breeds poverty. Crisis precipitates change.

[tyrbolo]

What surprises me is that the Romans solved this kind of problem under a lot worse conditions. A) enlist locals into an armed force (jobs for young men. B) use them to build and rebuild the infrastructure while training them to do it (civilians didn't build all of those roads and aqueducts) C) This bootstraps the private sector as a side effect D) it lets the populace see a visible presence that is doing something E) the peacekeepers who help with this work themselves out of a job. Simple

[laalillaa]

He had very good ideas. A dia show would not have hurt in understanding the whole idea with less brainwork :/

[mazterlith]

He is describing a similar process to how the U.S. rebuilt Japan after WW2.

[P00P0STER0US]

ted is like a gift to the world

[ArgueExplain]

Really good idea about boosting the construction center. I haven't thought about that.

But do the people of a broken nation have the money to afford buildings? It seems that developed nations would try to get mortgage lenders in there, which would milk the broken nation of all their money at 6% a year.

[jwfcp]

yep, he addressed that, well he skipped the interest issue, since the new nation wouldnt even be able to get a loan, but the new nation runs on donors.

[zappyhod]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH !

[dragonstorm83]

it is so interesting how detached his rhetoric expresses a conversation among people who aren't affected by the problem, yet seem to have an interest in the information. It's like saying, "hey, look what i discovered." he tells a great tale, but who does he talk to in order to get the theory implemented.

[Valelacerte]

He's talking to a couple of thousand people in this video.

[AnonEyeMouse]

The TED talks are watched by many people in the right circles. Also, you seem to think this is the only talk he has done, rather than one among many.

[1nicaCualquiera]

The thing that scared me was that in his book "The bottom billion" he argues in favor of military intervention. I was like WTF! He might be a scholar at Oxford and stuff but he perhaps is masquerading the dirty job done by the multilateral institutions like the WB, IMF on behalf of the dominant countries USA, UK.

[funkalunatic]

I think this guy is probably right.  The talk would be even stronger if he would connect the theoretical principles with more details of real-world examples, but maybe the audience (state department) is already familiar with enough of those.

[horny4bears]

so much for turning the page...forward.

instead its flipping the book back to the begining,sigh

[Efferts]

I swear.. watching this is like reading a book.

I understand the point, but I wish he got there faster.

[bluebeard2]

Look, there's a butterfly! Chase it! CHASE! IT!

[1nicaCualquiera]

Probably he overlooked the fact that in a broken nation the people are politically polarized. Maybe this difficults the coordination to rebuild the nation. Concensus in broken nations is perhaps extremely difficult. There is no substitute for a long lasting reconciliation of the major actors in a post-conflict society.

[BallinTrollin]

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA =best resource for repairing conflicts both physical *you can make a house/building* and mental. Smoke weed and peace out.

[TheEggBeast]

groovy

[VeritasEtLibertas82]

If this is true -- politics is built on a stable and prospering society -- what exactly do we nee government for again?

[Xaulted]

Only to make sure we have sound money, and to protect and serve it's citizens. Which our gov't is and has been failing us for a while now... and it's only getting worse.

[dominice112]

To make sure I win, and you loose.. in every sense of the way... but, that only if we have never had a governing entity.

Is it a choice?

[AnonEyeMouse]

The purpose of government is to protect the people from 'threats' that are too big for them to handle on their own.

Threats like crime, invasion, environmental degredation, starvation, disease, lack of education, lynch mob 'justice', vulture economics... etc...

The problem is political parties that become popular are built on politics people can grasp. Most people grasp politics for small communities where you know most of the people around you. Larger scale politics is beyond most people.

[Xaulted]

If this guy is right, and I think history has shown us he is.... then Obama is screwing us into oblivion. Politics and Gov't needs to be in the back seat... not the drivers seat. We need Ron Paul to rid of us of all this gov't bull crap!

[yuothineyesasian]

Ron Paul is right!!

[dominice112]

And regarding what, when it comes down to a Republican that is so called "right"?

(And don't bring up the Iraq war, because that is just a "simple" example which is hardly relevant as this is a about the (re)construction of a country that has been faced with war, and the obligations the NGO's, the UN and NATO have. It's not about the US. government that failed to keep it's troops out of other countries).

[yuothineyesasian]

I was talking about Ron Paul in general, commenting on another post about him.

But Ron Paul is right when it comes to monetary policy.

[dominice112]

Ooh, I got that part.. don't worry.

You said "He is right" (including the !!! somewhere).

So. He is right. He is right 14% of the day? He is 25% of the day? He uses the same approach as Paul Collier if he had the chance? He understands Paul Colliers approach? He showed he understands? He has a brain?!

He ain't that right in my book if he only got the "monetary policy" part right.

Don't try and make this a billboard for another politician that can't find his ass during nighttime.

[yuothineyesasian]

Take a breath, calm down...

I agreed with someone, I didn't start a debate or want one. I wasn't promoting a politician.

Why the fuck would you care what I think he's right about. You obviously have your own opinions about that, and I don't care to fucking hear them.

I don't like the Fed, Ron Paul doesn't like the Fed. That's his biggest issue and the about the only one I agree with him on.

Do me a favor and waste someone else's time. Maybe someone who wants an argument.

[dominice112]

Well, you posted as comment to somebody else. So apparently you found your reply important enough to share with others.

I was wondering what the heck it had to do with the Paul Colliers talk, and asked you a simple questions.

Now you replied again, with a bit more effort than the last time (and thank you for that), and gave a strong opinion.

If you don't care much about others (and their opinions).. don't say a word, sit back and read.

All in reference to Paul Colliers talk? Doubt it.

[kardentyrell]

I'de rather have Mike Gravel then Ron Paul...or at the very least his National Initiative. Bringing governance, the lawmaking to the people

[Valelacerte]

Ron Paul's a Creationist idiot; how would he face Paul Collier's reality if he can't even face the reality of life on this earth?

[CoxXximus]

PROJECT VENUS !!!!! LOOK IT UP

It's time for something new

ps. YOUNG PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING """RADICALLY NEW"""

[hutchings000]

Technically its all about resources... Why do wars happen in the first place? ok, now how can we stop that...

Zeitgeist Movement and The Venus Project, Look it up ;)

[BallinTrollin]

wow what bullshit talk.......why young men are pissed? bored? and jobs are solution?

[yuothineyesasian]

happy trolling

[Atoyota]

Sounds like the recipe used in Iraq, but he let out the partisan factor politics abroad making the #1 priority of security more difficult, without which you could not rebuild an economy or insure a self determined government of the people.

That huge hurdle was the impediment the Bush administration had to overcome, but now thankfully missing now the bickering side is in power.

[facelessone86]

Actually that sounds nothing like Iraq.

[swyft187]

He talks about civilization as if it were all about how to handle domesticated farm animals on a farm... Oh wait... humans ARE domesticated farm animals! He forgot why people get up and fight their governments in the first place...

The shepherd speaks! He wants MAXIMUM MILKING OF THE COWS!!! I bet this guy picks up pennies...

The only true illusory freedom is sovereignty or death.

[DANE842]

this resonates well with me.

[swyft187]

Try not to fall into the pit of pessimism. It is a nasty place.

[DANE842]

I'm on my way out actually, but thanks for the warning.

[thpt]

High level, buzzword filled talk -- but very informative. If you can make it past the extremely abstract, overly phrased, nervous delivery, it's full of good information.

[LokiClock]

For those of us who can't, would you summarize the point?

[deadswans2000]

You rebuild housing and roads, those who manage this process the best are your new leaders.

Those in charge of security can not have had any hand in the conflicts.

All plans must 10+ year plans.

[Gridfire]

The point is that current post-conflict plans and procedures don't address the underlying problems. Giving jobs to young men keeps them from being radicalised as they then have something to lose. Construction is needed to rebuild the conflict zone and people who have reliable water, electricity, etc are more content. Removing crooks means more money goes to the right places and isn't wasted/hoarded. All these together ease tensions, help normal people and remove the basis for further conflict.

[Guest655321]

Empire of old teaching the empire of today. <3

[afthefragile]

The main problem with broken nations is that there are always the people trying to take personal advantage of the situation. These are usually the politicians who try to come into power to fix the nation and then end up becoming power and money hungry dictators.

There should be a great emphasis on not just giving the young people jobs but also giving them a sense of power to the nation. The nation belongs to them and they are responsible in building it themselves. Not the government or NGOs.

[Efferts]

What's worse is that there are various (US) groups convinced that monetary charity will remedy the issue. This will only give us dependants other than our own children. And like children, you spoil them, they remain your clingy dependants.

Teach them a trade, to work, and they'll help themselves.

[HighChocobo]

nice idea

[wolffenhaus]

all this negitive economy and war bullshit is destroying young people and standing in the way of their progress. We need to be positive , active leaders or to stand down.

[InTheSticks1881]

Adhere to the ideas of freedom and it would come together naturally.

[afthefragile]

And thats the thing. People lose their freedom as soon as they achieve it by placing another corrupt regime in place of the old one. People fight hard for their freedom. Then once they've got their freedom, they don't know what to do next and then one guy steps up to become their leader and plans to fix the nation, they give him all the power to work the nation and they've once again lost their freedom which they've fought so hard to achieve!

Its the people that fix nations not the government.

[InTheSticks1881]

It worked for 200 years and is on it's way out. We are still free to express our opinions as result, yet the clock is ticking.

Through out history, tyranny is the most common form of government. Only once folks understand what it is like to be without freedom will they treasure and nurture it. Isn't it odd that countries still considered Communist now have free markets, whereas the U.S. has more government intervention? Even recent history shows us that Central Planning doesn't work.