Helping Zimbabwe help us

While our attention has been predominantly held by our own domestic concerns, much has occurred across the world that also affects us, whether we realize it or not. The sub-Saharan country of Zimbabwe reveals an extreme microcosm of the planet’s current economic crisis. Suffering from hyperinflation, the country’s currency is scarcely worth the paper it’s printed on. Last year’s elections were fraught with accusations of voter fraud and overshadowed by the bloody suppression of incumbent President Robert Mugabe’s opponents.Though a recent unity government has started to form with the swearing-in of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, the country still suffers from an overtly oppressive regime under Mugabe. To make matters worse, a cholera epidemic has ravaged the country with impunity, as there exists no effective government to counter it. “Okay, Matt,” you might say, “but what does this have to do with us?” Fair enough.Since this recession is hardly confined to our borders and we have a need to reestablish our nation’s diplomatic strength, Zimbabwe cannot be ignored. It’s a matter of America’s recovery that we focus on troubled areas in the world, lest those problems grow into larger regional or continental disputes. Today, domestic and foreign policy are rarely disconnected from each other. That means we need to revitalize the most ravaged areas of the world’s collective economy as it will benefit us.That said, what options does President Obama have at his disposal? Economic sanctions would be useless against a state with an economy already run into the ground. A military option would be impractical and unpopular, as ousting Mugabe may have the tinge of the Iraq War in the eyes of our fellow citizens and the world. The United States military still endures a great deal of strain with the deployment of its forces abroad and probably will for the immediate future, so even a limited, “peace-keeping” effort would face stumbling blocks. The most realistic choice may be via the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations, such as the African Union. Rather than acting, the United States may be able to help form a broad coalition to support the administration’s stance using the President’s current reservoir of political capital to. Admittedly, this route is a far more complicated approach and would require time. However, Mugabe would be compelled to yield power and act as a partner in the country’s unity government if he faced a monolithic bloc consisting not only of distant Western nations but also of Zimbabwe’s immediate neighbors. If the end result is positive, the United States may see a rehabilitation of its reputation to mediate global disputes peacefully and effectively.If Zimbabwe can be stabilized and its economy saved, this would reopen a sizeable market, providing job opportunities and revenue for regional companies and corporations within the state. The southernmost region of Africa would also become a more financially secure area to attract international investment, which is desperately needed. This means economic opportunities for us, as well.At this difficult time, we need to keep in mind that the solutions to our problems and those of other countries may be intertwined. Assisting other states in getting back on their feet does not have to be beneficially one-sided in any regard. By helping our neighbors, we can also help ourselves and prosper together as a global community.