The Thorny Business of Doing Good in Africa

A recent story in The Guardian reveals, in dizzying detail, the many challenges of offering quick solutions from the West to African problems: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/mar/08/kony-2012-what-s-the-story .  The story chronicles the story behind a youtube video created by an American nonprofit that has generated some 21 million hits.  The video is calculated to put pressure on politicians across the world to take action against warlord Joseph Kony's actions in Uganda, for Kony has routinely recruited child soldiers for many years.  The story points out several complicating factors, however: Kony has evidently not operated in Uganda for for some years; demonizing him may create retaliatory violence and make negotiation impossible; the film simplifies a complex situation and understates the degree to which Ugandans have improved their country; a very large share of donations to the organization are devoted to staff salaries and travel rather than directly improving the lives of Ugandans.  Many experts believe that the video is at the very least raising the awareness of many millions of people outside Africa about an important problem.  But, as usual, it is much easier to raise awareness if one neglects complexity.