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International political actors like the IMF have the biggest policy impact in countries which have the least influence on them. They speak of development while facilitating financial interests of international economic actors which have as much influence on political decision making in the third world as they have in the developed world. This case study outlines the policy choices which led to Zambia´s current system of production and illustrates the nature and goals of the critical decision centres involved. The implications cannot be overstated: Unless it is understood why 80% of the Zambian population live on less than one dollar a day while being completely disenfranchised politically, and unless it is understood how and why humanitarian and ecological considerations are wilfully ignored by the globally operating decision centres of a globalized world, the ruthless threats humanity is facing cannot be comprehended.

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The author successfully studied political sciences in Bamberg with minors in public law and communication sciences. In the course of getting his Master´s degree in European Governance at the University of Osnabrueck he completed a privately organized internship at a Zambian umbrella organization for youth civil society organizations.

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