From the slave trade to 'free trade': how trade undermines democracy and justice in Africa

The impact of trade policies and practices on the rights of communities in Africa

By: Burnett P and Manjii F
Published by: Fahamu, 2007
Via: Eldis

Published by Pambazuka to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade and the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s independence this series of articles seeks to raise awareness and debate on issues of trade and justice. Articles are organised under the following themes:

• Trade, investment and the international institutions
• Lessons from the slave trade
• Women and trade
• Trade, environment and agriculture

Together, these articles describe the negative impact on the rights of communities of poorly designed trade policies. Whether it is from the absence of women’s voices at global trade negotiations, the decline of country health systems as a result of international trade policies or the sacrficing of community rights in the interests of multi-national corporations, the authors argue that trade policies impose a profit first and people last regime in Africa.
(http://www.fahamu.org/downloads/tj_book_forweb.pdf)