A discussion yesterday about ways in which Africa could globalize evolved into a debate about whether it should.

Kidane Mengisteab, professor of African and African-American studies and political science, gave a talk titled "Globalization: The African Implications," as part of the African and African-American studies depart-ment's monthly brown-bag discussion series.

Mengisteab described the changes in the global economy and presented his ideas on how Africa could play a larger role.

Africa's lack of integration with the global market has impeded the development of its countries' economies, Mengisteab said.

He said the reason for this lack of global integration is because African countries are not integrated within themselves.

"African countries are fragmented both politically and socially," he said.

"The institutions in Africa are detached. With a detached state you have all sorts of ethnic conflicts . . . and all sorts of human rights violations."

Mengisteab then outlined the actions he feels are necessary for African countries to globalize.

"The options are internal integration and maybe also regional integration. . . . And obviously reconstructing the state which has been detached," he said. "These aren't options — actually it's what needs to be done for African countries to enter the global system."

After the speech, Assata Richards (graduate-sociology) challenged Mengisteab on whether globalization should even be a goal for Africa.

Mengisteab responded that he was attempting to deal with the reality of globalization, not the morality of the issue.

"I'm starting from the position that even if (African countries) wanted to, they cannot opt out," he said.

"You have to have the political power to make (the international system) change."

Mengisteab said Africa does not have that power.

Brown bag discussions are sponsored each month by the African and African-American studies department to examine various issues in the African community and to allow faculty members to present their research.

The series was given the name "brown bag" because attendees are encouraged to bring and eat lunch during the discussions.

Robyn Spencer, organizer of the brown bag series, said yesterday's discussion, which was attended by about 25 people, was a success. Spencer is an assistant professor of African and African-American studies and history.

"I thought it was really excellent because it addressed the issue of globalization, which is such a buzzword, and put it in the context of the African experience," she said.

Era Joy Smith (senior-environmental and renewable resource economics) said she was excited by the topic.

"I'm rather interested in economics and I was interested to hear others' opinions on globalization," she said.