Why are so many African countries so screwed up?

[thundley4]

edhopper (12,539 posts) Mon Feb 16, 2015, 12:50 PM
Why are so many African countries so screwed up?

I am asking seriously. I don't know enough to make a good assessment myself.
Is it because of colonialism, tribalism, corruption, religious factors? Some of them each? Different reasons for different countries? Is the poverty that seems endemic due to factors mainly from within or without?

I guess I am talking about Sub-Saharan Africa, since North Africa has a different set of circumstances. And I know there are countries in Africa that are fine.

And it has absolutely nothing to do with the race of the population, I am asking about the cultural, historical and political reasons. Note: Race plays a big part of any culture.

What has caused the situation in many of the countries there?

Please forgive me if any of this is indelicate, I am trying to be as straightforward as I can and ask this without malice.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026233821

Honestly, I only brought this over for one very telling comment.

csziggy (17,587 posts)
20. It's a self fulfilling prophesy

"These people can't learn, can't work, can't rule themselves, so there is no point in teaching them, giving them jobs, letting them run their own affairs."

Then when the people have had no education, no experience, and can't get or keep a job, blame them for being ignorant and shiftless - when the people in power have created that situation.

It happens all the time, all over the world and it sucks.

This sounds a lot like how the democrat party treat blacks in the US.

As you can guess, most of the DUmmies blame the evil white man for all of the problems in Africa. They ignore the fact that standards of living for all people in Africa dropped like a rock when they were given autonomy.

[98ZJUSMC]

The OP answered his own question, at least as far as the Romper Room is concerned.  No, you idiots are in no way interested is any answers that shake up your indoctrination.

Is it because of colonialism, tribalism, corruption, religious factors?

It ALWAYS is.  Why even ask the question?

And I know there are countries in Africa that are fine.
Why not name them?
And it has absolutely nothing to do with the race of the population, I am asking about the cultural, historical and political reasons.   

Sure, ya are....

Then when the people have had no education, no experience, and can't get or keep a job, blame them for being ignorant and shiftless - when the people in power have created that situation.

   Enough..... you're an idiot.

[Chris_]

Here's an answer, DUmmies.  It's the complete opposite of what your President stands for.

This African Country Was Once the World’s Third Poorest. Here’s How It Turned Things Around.

[HawkHogan]

That's Racist!!!!

[BlueStateSaint]

Here's an answer, DUmmies.  It's the complete opposite of what your President stands for.

This African Country Was Once the World’s Third Poorest. Here’s How It Turned Things Around.

When I was going through the Signal Officer Basic Course at FT Gordon, we had a young lieutenant from Botswana in our platoon.  Anderson was his first name, his last name was Maltho, IIRC.  He fit right into our platoon and he was better suited to our equipment than at least one of the other lieutenants in the platoon (and his army didn't reallu use the US Army equipment!).  He knew his stuff.  He was a good guy.

[freedumb2003b]

guillaumeb (287 posts)
10. absolutely on the money.

Africa has always been treated like a continent sized plantation by American and European colonialists. Add in China and Saudi Arabia in this century because both countries are buying huge chunks of farmland to grow food for export back to their own countries.

African resources have been stolen from the African people ever since the continent was discovered. Americans and Europeans stole the resources and then blamed the African peoples for their poverty.

The same thing that was done to Haiti by the French colonialists. The reason Haiti is so resource poor is that the timber and other natural resources were stolen by the French after the African and Indian people of Haiti dared to revolt against the French white overlords. Haiti was assessed reparations by the French as payment/bribery for the French agreeing to leave Haiti. The reparations were not fully paid off until around 1965.

OK, so why did absolutely no modern anything develop in Africa?  It is mineral-rich and food grows easily.  Why did a handful of Europeans take them over so easily and why do the countries now, with access to all of modernity, are all ruled by despots?

So the non-answer of "blame Whitey" is not an answer at all.
 

[thundley4]

To make matters worse, Islam is slowly but surely spreading deeper into Africa.

[SVPete]

The colonialism-plus-racism narrative is so trite and silly. But very well ... the biggest colonizer in Sub-Saharan Africa was the Brits.

The Brits also colonized India, which has challenges but is progressing.

The Brits also colonized Hong Kong, whose prosperity is decades old.

The Brits also colonized Singapore, which has challenges but is progressing.

The Brits also colonized Malaysia, which has challenges but is progressing.

So howzabout dropping the trite and silly colonialism-plus-racism narrative? Otherwise, explain the progress and prosperity in so many former British colonies outside of Africa!

[thundley4]

The colonialism-plus-racism narrative is so trite and silly. But very well ... the biggest colonizer in Sub-Saharan Africa was the Brits.

The Brits also colonized India, which has challenges but is progressing.

The Brits also colonized Hong Kong, whose prosperity is decades old.

The Brits also colonized Singapore, which has challenges but is progressing.

The Brits also colonized Malaysia, which has challenges but is progressing.

So howzabout dropping the trite and silly colonialism-plus-racism narrative? Otherwise, explain the progress and prosperity in so many former British colonies outside of Africa!

The Brits also colonized the US, and look where we are today. (I mean in general, not the part about being ruled by a corrupt, autocratic African.)

[Gina]

I always wondered why the AIDS virus was so bad there.  I have heard horror stories that the men there think they can rape babies so they don't get AIDS. How about keeping your dick in your pants?  Why can't people control their selfish sexual urges?

[franksolich]

I wish I could find a link, but the information's so ancient I doubt if it exists.

I recall reading an article in the newspaper one time, circa 1979-1980, describing a United Nations study on conditions in Africa.

United Nations, remember.

The news article had a chart of conditions in each individual country.

When it came to things such as medical care, longevity, wages, nutrition, and housing, Rhodesia was number one, followed by number two South Africa.

Rhodesia had always been out of the United Nations, considered an "outlaw" country because of its white-minority rule, and South Africa about this time was in deep doo-doo with the United Nations because of its white-minority rule.

This is not to condone minority rule; it's more so to point out that conditions in black-ruled Africa must've been Hell, if Rhodesia and South Africa were the best.

And as we all know, conditions in former Rhodesia, now Zimbawbe, have deteriorated catastrophically for those of African derivation living there, and while I don't know for sure, I suspect medical care, longevity, wages, nutrition, and housing have since deteriorated for those of African derivation living in South Africa today.

It's not about color, really; it's all about rule of law as compared with rule and ruin by corruption.  The British may have left their white wigs and colorful Parliamentary robes to be adopted by judges in Ghana, but they left way too prematurely, without instilling a respect for the law in these people.

[SVPete]

The Brits also colonized the US, and look where we are today. (I mean in general, not the part about being ruled by a corrupt, autocratic African.)

I chose the particular former Brit colonies I listed because they are ruled by non-whites, i.e. analogous to former African colonies being ruled by non-whites.

[DumbAss Tanker]

edhopper (12,539 posts) Mon Feb 16, 2015, 12:50 PM
Why are so many African countries so screwed up?

They're run by Africans.  Pretty simple, really.

[JohnnyReb]

They're run by Africans.  Pretty simple, really.

That's racist.....but true.

[FiddyBeowulf]

They're run by Africans.  Pretty simple, really.

African Kleptocrats.

[thundley4]

I chose the particular former Brit colonies I listed because they are ruled by non-whites, i.e. analogous to former African colonies being ruled by non-whites.

That's why I mentioned the US. Up to now, it's been run by white people, but see what having one black leader has done to the US? 

[jukin]

Because of black people.

If blacks could develop and build a successful state wouldn't they have done it at least one time in all of history?

[sargentodiaz]

African countries are so screwed up for the same reason so many regions of the world are screwed up.

Colonialism! 

Europeans went into regions where only tribal rule existed. They crossed long-time boundaries and tried to being together different cultures into a political entity of their own making.

The idea of democracy and all other political beliefs was and still is foreign to the vast majority of those peoples.

Their hierarchy is simple:

Family

Clan

Tribe

Anything beyond that is outside of their understanding.

[GOBUCKS]

They're run by Africans.  Pretty simple, really.

That can't be the reason.

What about Detroit, Chicago, Oakland....oh, wait.

[obumazombie]

That's Racist!!!!

So much truth in this thread it will be deemed "vile" and "the most racist thread ever" once lurkers from DU stalk it.

[jukin]

Why isn't there native statues and native art work from thousands, or even hundreds, of years ago in Africa?

[Donpeyote]

To make matters worse, Islam is slowly but surely spreading deeper into Africa.

This x 1000