Munk Debates: The speakers are thanked and voting begins (15 of 15)

The 2009 Munk Debates: "Be it resolved, foreign aid does more harm than good" (June 1, 2009).

Dambisa Moyo and Hernando De Soto argue in favour of the motion. Paul Collier and Stephen Lewis argue against the motion.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Dambisa
• Moyo
• Munk
• Debates
• 2009
• Hernando
• De
• Soto
• Paul
• Collier
• Stephen
• Lewis
• Dead
• Aid
• Trade
• Capitalism
• Foreign
• Africa

[DukeAlba]

Interesting debate - but ultimately the argument against dependence on aid and for private property rights is more convincing.

[DukeAlba]

Bleeding heart types are common in Canada. No wonder Canada is one of the biggest supporters of the Communist Cuban government. It will be a sight to behold if Cuba ever opens up and the total lack of private property records becomes evident to everyone. No one really owns their land in Cuba - and bleeding heart liberals blame the embargo for the country's poverty?

The island can trade and has relations with the rest of the world. All the problems are internal.

[sugarfoot1001]

what were the results?

[LabeerehnGbanna]

Dambisa and Hernando had a really tough motion to argue, but did extremely well. It's quite true that government-to-government aid goes straight into the pockets of corrupt leaders who are not accountable to their citizens. It's sad that aid money comes from the poor in rich countries and end up in the hands of the rich political elite in poor nations.

[Ryan18121]

But do you understand the voiciferous hostility against China. One must simply look at what they have allowed to happen in Darfur and ask themselves why. Why doesn't China step in? Why doesn't China help? Because it's against their business interest. Listen to Mr. Lewis's closing argument about private capital and natural resources. It's all in there and it's true. It's just works.

[zimbomatty]

What's interesting is that both Dambisa and Hernando come from poor countries while Stephen and Paul do not. One would expect their stance on the debate to be the other way round. Surely this is saying something. It's almost like a young adult telling his parents, "soon I'll need to prepare to venture out on my own, be my own person" , and the parents insisting "we need to take care of you or else you will die - you must stay a child forever - that's the only way you can be safe"

[lysscatherine]

What a biased audience though. This was in Toronto and Stephen Lewis is a well-known Canadian public intellectual= mad name recognition

I thought Dambisa and Hernando seriously schooled them. There was also a noticeable generational gap between the 2 camps: Dambisa was speaking as someone who has lived through the setbacks of aid; Paul and Stephen were talking about the past eras. Also, Paul and Stephen were much more hostile to China's involvement in Africa than the other 2.

[harrie49]

What about aid done by spoiled yougsters from the west.

I think they have to feel, see and smell poverty and so on personally.

My opinion is that aid helps but not by giving it for nothing.

I won't do anyhthing anymore if I get my money every day for free.

Hovert

[Craigvadams]

Hernando was funny and sharp.

Dambisa is Brilliant, Beautiful, Charismatic, and Brave. By the way, she does not need a TelePrompter.

[davidg1234]

Before the debate 39% were in favour of the motion. After the debate, 41% were.

This means that Hernando and Dambisa won because they "convinced" people to join their side.