Why is Africa still poor? (middle east, drug, controversial, borders)

[Searcher521]

The problem has to be ascribed to a culture which is not ready to support a modern society. You can not install concepts of western civilization on people who only identify with tribe or clan and are not far removed from subsistance farming. In one case idiots drove white farmers off of very productive farms and subdivided it among black African reverting to little more than subsistance farming causing mass hunger in a country where before there was plenty.

[Searcher521]

Is it really corruption? What ever family or ruling clan is in power exercises for their personal benefit. It seems like this is a pervasive value system whose selfishness holds back many countries from developing.

If we would stop sending humanitarian aide to Africa things would sort themselves out. The conflicts that are driving people of their land abandoning farms and animals would soon starve themselves out. As it is they are sustained by the foodstuff the world sends to support the refugees. Its their country/continent let them solve their own problems or die.

[indomitablyShe]

Originally Posted by samston

The arguments for African poverty are so:

- Colonialism
- Corruption
- Western attempts to undermine the continent covertly

The first example is a no-no. If colonialism always undermines development, then why is India an aspiring power now? The British treated India awfully.

Secondly, all countries are corrupt, with no exceptions. Corruption will exist as long as human beings exist. Yet for most countries, corruption does not retard economic development, so why in Africa?

Lastly, well racism is racism.

So, since corruption is part of the human condition, and colonialism affected other areas badly also, why is Africa still poor?

Sure the corruption and warring factions in some countries keep those places in constant turmoil but let's not marginalize an entire continent. It's like applying the economic situation in California or conditions in the rust belt to all of the US.

Here's a link one one of those "poor" nations:
T-Shirt Travels: A Documentary on Second Hand Clothes in Africa - Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO)

I saw it on PBS sometime ago. It's about Zambia, an African country that is heavily indebted to the IMF and had it's thriving textile industry destroyed by the influx of second-hand clothing from the west. No doubt the loans from the IMF went to industrialize the country but when the major industry is destroyed and the debt remains. Unlike many of us who find ourselves indebted, there is no bankruptcy. The IMF gets its money first and what remains is left for the government's use.

The term poor implies a measurement of success but for many African nations and other third world nations it's about survival. I assure you there is a difference.

[Hoarfrost]

Forgive me in advance for not taking seriously a thread titled "Why is Africa still poor?". The problems with such a statement include but are not limited to making a blanket statement about dozens of countries spanning an enormous continent each with a predicament different from the last, the idiocy of broad stroking all colonialism in the world as being of equal nature, and the gall of understating the effects of predatory Western economic policies on the developing world.

Such a premise cannot possibly reach a conclusion of any worth.

[marmac]

Originally Posted by samston

The arguments for African poverty are so:

- Colonialism
- Corruption
- Western attempts to undermine the continent covertly

The first example is a no-no. If colonialism always undermines development, then why is India an aspiring power now? The British treated India awfully.

Secondly, all countries are corrupt, with no exceptions. Corruption will exist as long as human beings exist. Yet for most countries, corruption does not retard economic development, so why in Africa?

Lastly, well racism is racism.

So, since corruption is part of the human condition, and colonialism affected other areas badly also, why is Africa still poor?

-Corruption-

You state every country has it, but that's like telling a bald man everyone has some hairless spots on their body.

[jasper12]

Lack of birth control. Look at any other country that is developing, they have control over the population. China, Japan, India...get control of breeding. Lack of resources, we don't care about the place, believe me, if Africa had a bunch of oil, we would be in control of the mess over there.

[Escort Rider]

Originally Posted by Hoarfrost

Forgive me in advance for not taking seriously a thread titled "Why is Africa still poor?". The problems with such a statement include but are not limited to making a blanket statement about dozens of countries spanning an enormous continent each with a predicament different from the last, the idiocy of broad stroking all colonialism in the world as being of equal nature, and the gall of understating the effects of predatory Western economic policies on the developing world.

Such a premise cannot possibly reach a conclusion of any worth.

The problem with your analysis is calling the question posed by the thread title a statement. By posing a question, rather than making a statement, the OP was in effect inviting different sorts of answers such as the one you are sort of giving. Instead of using emotionally loaded words like "idiocy" and "gall", you could have made a real contribution to this thread which you refuse to take seriously by expanding a bit on the various complexities that you so rightly mention. Sure, the original post is overly simplistic, I agree. Why not state that for starters and go on to make your case instead of raising the temperature by getting your panties all in a bunch? I get the impression you have the knowledge to make a genuine contribution here, and I, for one, would like to hear it.

[bustaduke]

Originally Posted by samston

The arguments for African poverty are so:

- Colonialism
- Corruption
- Western attempts to undermine the continent covertly

The first example is a no-no. If colonialism always undermines development, then why is India an aspiring power now? The British treated India awfully.

Secondly, all countries are corrupt, with no exceptions. Corruption will exist as long as human beings exist. Yet for most countries, corruption does not retard economic development, so why in Africa?

Lastly, well racism is racism.

So, since corruption is part of the human condition, and colonialism affected other areas badly also, why is Africa still poor?

this isn't worth responding to because everyone knows the truth

[Visit a Library]

Originally Posted by samston

The arguments for African poverty are so:

- Colonialism
- Corruption
- Western attempts to undermine the continent covertly

You're missing one.

[miyu]

The continent has no large domesticated animals, and little carbohydrate food resources. This put their development far behind those of other continents, as there was no way to introduce mass production or stability (large-scale farming instead of hunting/gathering) into their society. Consequently they were always behind other nations. The rest is history.