An Exploration of the Effects of Structural Adjustment and BRICS Engagement on Development in Zimbabwe Over the Periods 1991–1995 and 2009–2013

ABSTRACT

There are new avenues for development assistance emerging within the twenty-first century. Such prospects have in some cases liberated or increased the ability of African developing economies from the crippling debt associated with more traditional forms of conditional donor aid. As such, the structural adjustment programmes furthered by the Washington Consensus are rapidly losing ground within sub-Saharan Africa. Nations such as Zimbabwe who have often been criticised by Bretton Woods institutions and have had sanctions placed against them by the said institutions. Through comparing these interactions in two distinct time periods (1991–1995 and 2009–2013), the paper shows that the emergent intensified engagement with BRICS has in fact produced more desirable effects, such as growing industry, an improved health care system and better fiscal management. Given the findings mentioned above, the emergence of BRICS intensified engagement poses a threat to neo-liberal imperialism.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.