4.3. Remedies for African Underdevelopment
If there are the sophisticated problems that constrained development of the continent, we should admit and find out the appropriate mechanisms. Whatever the case we should acknowledge that Africa is a heterogeneous continent in terms of cultures, languages, histories, ethnicity, etc. that receive marginal attention in the discursive practices of development. The basic thrust of modern development scholarship and application returns to the essential notions of Africa’s inadequate characteristics (Andreasson, 2005). By disaggregating regions, we can better understand the diversity of thought, culture, language, or values within these regions, and thus address reverse-orientalism. In addition
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However, the main problem with this philosophical approach is that it does not provide the complex answers to what is a multi-faceted problem of the continent. From the above stated African constraints, the basic ones have stemmed from leadership problems because most of African leaders are considered as corrupted and rent seekers, and thereto problems of their own countries. That creates socioeconomic and political crisis. Basically, we can ask, how could the African leaders be affected by these …show more content…
Arguments for Post-development have been developed by underpinning postmodernism principles: metaphysical unrealistic, epistemologically socially relativistic (subjective) constructive and morally teleological oriented . From this stand, unjust power relationship between developed and developing countries has been considered as basic factor for argument of development issues. Thus the basic assumption is that the power should be shifted from externally standard expertise imposition paradigm to locally oriented internal motivated underpinning. This power shift orientation may be reflected by knowledge capacity development, socioeconomic relation and political decision on the hands of those societies. Some post-development scholars have seen development as imposed program on developing countries by developed ones. Due to this, they consider development itself as problems. But even if the arguments are true, it seems to argue based on unrealistic criticism since development is naturally world phenomenon and can be internally motivated with attached dynamic nature of upward improvements of any
In History of Africa, Shillington focuses on many aspects of African culture and factors that made Africa to be the continent that it is today. Chapter 5 primarily focuses on the Northern region of Africa and how empires took over and spread their ideology technology, and culture all through out the region. Even today some remnants of the Roman and Greek empire live on to this day (Shillington, 69.) Despite many people getting the impression that Northern Africa is only influenced by Arabic and Islam, these empires and their conquests are best understood through topics like intricate trading routes, farming, and the spread of religion. Shillington provides an in depth analysis of how many of these conquests affected Northern Africa centuries ago and today.
Martial Henry Merlin believed that Europe was entitled to occupy territories in Africa to “civilize” them. (Doc. 6) His speech was given to justify the colonization of Africa. Most Europeans in this time would agree that it was a virtue for a “fully developed race” to develop countries full of “backward peoples who are plunged
These are nationalism, culture attitude, and economics. In the long run the race for Africa led to a war within Europe. Africa on this day still has European influences in their everyday lives. To this day Africans still strive to survive. Europe strives to be one of the top countries in the world
Africa In World Politics: Engaging a Changing Global Order by John Harbenson and Donald Rothchild gives an analysis of how Africa has changed from being a European ruled colonial nation to a nation that it creating a name for itself in the global sphere. Beginning with Africa’s politics during the colonial era through the present. The book provides not only details about Africa but also how the changing world has affected African politics. The main focus of this book is to show the growth Africa has had since its time of colonization. Africa has grown as the world has changed although it has had to deal with internal conflicts and demands for political change due to its authoritarian regimes.
It is an unfortunate outcome but Africa did serve as a means of settling the competition between European nations although this friendly quarrel was not the only driving force behind European imperialism. The cultural attitudes of a nation can serve as a hidden motive to conquer the unknown
Africa went through significant changes due to the civilizing missions carried out by European imperialists throughout much of the late 1800s and the early 1900s. From these “civilizing missions,” we can concur those missions were carried out to further European imperialist efforts for their own benefit with the rationalization of their racist and aggressive actions. The evidence in this chapter suggests that European rule was conducted in detriment to African peoples by presenting an almost Darwinian form of “superiority” that white imperialists wished to “improve” the African continent with. This was achieved by justifying their actions by the using racist rhetoric that Africa was “uncivilized,” introducing Christianity to Africa, and ignoring critics of imperialism.
As well as a strong government, with generosity and security. Also, a culture of various learned men, with people skilled in the arts. The achievements of the African people before European arrival showed how successful and sustainable a nation can be with a deep culture, a strong economy and a generous
The division and exploitation of Africa ultimately established the foundation for issues such as the apartheid and
In addition, the Portuguese were unable to expand and gain control over the interior regions because indigenous African populations successfully resisted Portuguese force despite the Portuguese’ advanced firearms (Burns Collins 182-188). This example goes to illustrate that Africans had agency in the outcomes of interactions between themselves and Europeans. They were not forced to make concessions to more powerful Europeans- instead, they themselves possessed the power to influence their own outcomes. This re-interpretation of Afro-European relations is crucial to our movement toward the understanding and appreciation of the actions of Africans as well as of Africans themselves.
Throughout the ages, many nations have been known to do whatever it takes to sustain a valuable supply of resources. For this reason, however the exploitation of resources by countries using unfair means is an enduring issue for many groups of people. Exploitation of resources is when the government or outside forces take advantage of a nation’s resources. This issue is significant because it causes civil conflict and war, can impact people of nations terribly, and can destroy industry. Problems created by exploitation of resources can be seen in examples from Sierra Leone, the Congo and British India.
Throughout time diverse regions have considered other societies to be barbaric, causing them to have the desire of “civilizing” them. Many individuals accept the rule of a higher and civilized region as they believe that their alterations will benefit them. Although, by enabling a higher power to acquire authority in another foreign nation, will diminish that regions culture and individuals will not truly possess respect, ultimately causing them to rebel against that foreign power after they comprehend their true nature. Likewise, after the Berlin Conference, which set certain rules for the partition of Africa, numerous European powers desired in colonizing Africa and obtaining control during the early 1800s, which was known as the Scramble
Many stereotypes of African culture have emerged due to western literature and media and first hand accounts of explorers. Things Fall Apart offers a view into the truth and reality of African cultures, which are often misconceptualized by these stereotypes. Acebe shows how African society functions well without assistance from foreign travelers. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe counters the imperialist stereotypes of Africa by keeping certain words in the Igbo language, as opposed to translating them into English, to fight back against the spreading western culture and to embrace their own way of life. He also counters the imperialist stereotypes of Africa by using Igbo proverbs to show how their culture values many of the same things that western
Davidson makes reference to Idi Amin of Uganda as well as Jean-Bédel Bokassa of the Central African Republic, who both are examples of leaders who mirrored the actions of their colonial predecessors. Their rule was similar to that of European colonizers in that they thrived off of the inequality of Africans and took part in lavish celebrations while the majority of their country remained poor. While some believe this corruption is due to some innate greed possessed solely by Africans, a look into history tells you that modern day African rulers have simply just inherited and embraced the lifestyle of the European rules before them, which unfortunately included the massive hoarding of wealth. This hoarding of wealth did not come without any opposition however, which brings about the next theme of dictatorship and how rulers such as Bokassa and Amin maintained their positions of power through the crushing of dissent. The suppression of protests was done through the torture and murder of anyone who criticized, which is exactly how the European colonizers ruled out any opposition and another example of the brutal legacies of
The association of poverty with Africa goes together like apple pie and America. From the advertisements of malnourished, African children to our education, or rather lack of education, about African countries in the American school system, the concept of Africa as an impoverished continent has been engrained into our minds. This rhetoric of Africa has lasted over decades, with a substantial amount of aid being given to African countries to rectify this problem. And yet, sixteen of the world’s poorest countries were identified as being in sub-Saharan Africa as of 2013. This insinuates that foreign countries and organizations that provide aid, need to reevaluate why aid isn’t making a bigger impact at fixing the problem.
Where is all the improvement? That is a very frank question. Casually looking at his race one would think that the continent could not sustain development, however a thorough study of history will reveal the exploitation of Africa by the Europeans. The rich continent was subject to rude interruptions by unwanted visitors across the Atlantic. These came in the guise of bringing ‘civilization’ and ‘religion’ to the ‘barbarians’ in the land.