Third World Class - How Europe Underdeveloped Africa - Research Paper Example

Third World Class - How Europe Underdeveloped Africa African history discloses that by 1800s, Africans were terribly facing foreign dispersion. Within the period of twenty years of European arrival in Africa, Europeans carved Africans into the dependencies of European government. since the 18th century, time to time, African history has been beautifully described by many of the authors like Chinua Achebe, Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, Ali Mazrui, William Gumede, Chinweizu, Wangui wa Goro, Martha Chinouya, Kimani Ngoju, Eva Dadrian, Marianna Ofosu and number of other intellectuals (Zaleza, 2007). Dependency during the World War II was the main cause behind the frustration in Africans. So-called Colonialism closed almost all the doors of education, opportunities, finance and social values upon the Africans under the white rulers. They were treated like animals and were not compensated justifiably. Colonialism became a symbol of racial discrimination. As per a few scholars and writers, this bitter and sad history of Africa can assist in researching the causes behind most of the obstacles faced by number of African nations at present that would really help in realizing the consequences at numerous stages in detail of the journey which actually intervened linking the end of their seclusion from European entrance to statehood (Hunt, 2009). Elsewhere transactions of callous and productive trade were agreed at high level; around twelve million slaves were sent abroad to the Americas. Even so, the ultimate prototype of imposing Africa, from the 1880s, depends very first and foremost on where each nation's legislative body could occur to be positioned. African prosperity was scarcely obtainable for its indigenous population, and her bio network, were endangering by voracious Western expenditure. This actually was taken as disregarded or was ignored by patrons in Europe, Japan, and North America-the USA. It consumes about 60% of the world's possessions but has only a division (4.1 %) of world's inhabitants (Rod, 1998). The African was at once racial zed as black (African), and editorialized by the bud vase conventional by the colonial separation. Pan-Africanism emerged as a continental form of chauvinism. Discharge from the colonial rule needed a protective institute, which could provide the overriding frame for autonomist appearance (William, 1997). The Leninists have had an immeasurably enhanced influence on African enlargement than any Western nation, but the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and China had their individual welfare to preserve in Africa as sound, and were not there merely for compassionate purposes (Kurl, 2009). 1. How Africa developed before the Europeans interference (up to the 15th Century) Portuguese initiated the African coastline in 15th century for trade purpose; the European nations of the Atlantic coast rapidly distributed their troops into the district.  The Underdevelopment concerns rose with the trade of slaves. The developed world demoralized Africa for the same. Progressively more this competitor European nations navigated south not to pillage Portuguese vessels but to triumph in a share in trade of slaves, gold, ivory and gum. To do so, they required constructing their own equipped trading stations, or to grab such places already recognized by rivals. The estuaries of the enormous rivers were the exact positions for these European trading posts. Captives brought from the internal to the continent in canoes, could be transferred to ships for the Atlantic journey.  When it comes to religion, there are two major religions found in Africa-Islam and Christianity. Besides these two religions, there are number of other religions followed in the continent of Africa. European impacted the continent of Africa for centuries. Africans were good in farming, mining and in a few other fields that profited Europeans with good margins. European earned significantly by the mean of their productivity at very low expense. Before Europeans invaded Africa in the 15 century, Ghana, Mali and Songhai were comparatively the developed societies of Africa. As mentioned in a few books, a known emperor Mansa Musa, who was basically one of the emperors and was admired for his kindness and bigheartedness, referred Mali to a term where the king dwells. Mansa Musa was the king of Mali when Mali was known for its trade routes of salt and gold. Under the rule of Mansa Musa, the middle Niger lands were brought under the empire of Mali. Besides, Gao and Timbuktu were also brought under his rule. Mansa Musa experienced number of political successes under his rule that actually declared him as the sensible and successful king in African history. Mali was also known for its religious values. Here, it is very important to discuss Timbuktu, in eleventh century, Tuareg Imashagan discovered Timbuktu before the admission of white people in Africa. When it comes to Songhai, it had remained a point to sit and conduct trade meetings for Arabs, Taureg and Wangara Fulani. As far as trade port is concerned, North Africa and West Africa had been using Timbuktu port to execute international trade. In trades, gum, gold and salt were noticeably and largely found in Timbuktu. Due to the Niger River and academic values, Timbuktu was also famous for the purpose of tourism. In addition to this, Timbuktu, at times, had highly qualified people by the mean of scholars, saints, priests, doctors and judges. Timbuktu had been an ideal place to reside, so was well populated. Timbuktu has always been a point of historical vitality. Timbuktu scholars were known for their bravery and values. It was not very easy for anyone to force or convince them to do something unethical or unfair. Numbers of Timbuktu historical values are open to public in French museum. As it is discussed above, Timbuktu was also known for gold trades, Ghana, which is another big city of Africa, was earlier famous as the center of gold and salt trading. But, Ghana was considerably more into trades than Timbuktu. Due to the same reason, people used to consider it as a safe and ideal place to live. 2. European Capitalist Developments (Pre-Colonial Period) Western Europe and Africa came in order to business relationship in the middle of 15thand 16th centuries. Wealth was relocated from Africa to the Western Europe as a consequence of trade terms between the two-Africa and Western Europe. As international trade was possible by sea, Europeans had the upper hand over the Africans. Major financing among four continents was governed and directed by the Europeans and most of the containers were owned by them, especially, trade from North Sea to the Mediterranean was led by the Europeans at a large scale. One of the other reasons was also their expertise, proficiency and acquaintance over the sea trade. This caused the real influence of white people over the Africans. Such international trade helped the Europeans to meet their goals. Ultimately, Europe became powerful and superior to the Africans and Americas. Normal sympathetic toward the imposing phase in African narration has been urbanized in common chronological circles (Hunt, 2009). The 17th and 18th centuries, the Portuguese accepted the majority of the East African ivory in between 17th and 18th centuries while Indian material and goods were sold in East and West Africa by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French.  Later, the development of African labor sustained to be a foundation for the accretion of resources to be re-invested in Western Europe. Gum from Africa also played an ingredient in the fabric commerce, which accredited as one of the authoritative engine growths within the European market. The unprocessed substances from Africa helped industries in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, and North America in producing stuff ranging from the knife handles piano keys. As far as the economy is concerned, European economy received global benefits from finance and resources, which were actually directed from Africa. Africa was found as a source for slaves, ivory, salt and gold.  3. Europe and the roots of African underdevelopment (up to 1885) Period of 1885 was not very fortunate for Africans. By then, Africans not only lost freedom, but they also suffered a big loss by the mean of losing ownership over their African economy. It started from 15th century, when Africans actually began to lose their control over its independence and economy. Then, later in 1960, retrieval of sovereignty brought a little change. As per Walter, trade of slaves between the Europeans and the African was a consequence of working as slaves in European society. This actually brought a downfall to the Africans. Europeans had them as an outcome of slave trade and used to treat them as their property. Walter referred two trade terms- Arab Slave Trade and European Slave trade in his book. Arab Slave Trade refers to the trade in East Africa and the Sudan, where countless Africans were sold to the Arab buyers while the term European Slave trade refers to the trade when Europeans shipped Africans to European buyers (1973). The institution does not endure university deceitfulness of any class (Eric, 2010). 4. Africa's contribution to the capitalist development of Europe (The Colonial Period) Africa has been a center of gold, salt, slaves and number of numerous raw materials that significantly participated in strengthening trade links and relationships between the African, Europeans and Africans. For any advancement and growth, two factors play significant roles. Africa contributed in both the factors of labor and land utilization. African labor was comparatively cheaper and effective than any other region. This resulted in attractive profit to the employer by getting labor at certainly cheap wages and by force to perform heavy jobs. This could be an example of traditional hatred between the white and black people phenomenon as white people had an upper hand over the black Africans and therefore, started treating them unethically and by the mean of not paying them the actual worth of their efforts. Race discrimination caused troubles for Africans throughout. A white worker, with same expertise as a black worker, used to get more than double of his wage.  Some of the Africans were engaged in peasants. They could be productive by the mean of producing coffee, cocoa and palm oil at large scale. From different geographical locations, most of the businessmen, who were European, Arabs, Indians, Syrians and Lebanese, were more in to growing cash crop and other related fields. Africans were in minority among them. There were numerous reasons behind the offensive browbeaten with the African employee by the European complement in the attendance century. Initially, the unfamiliar colonial condition had a domination of supporting influence, after humiliating all antagonism by prepared force. Secondly, the African operational group was diminutive, detached, and very unhinged to international practices of trade and travel. Thirdly, despite the fact that private enterprises were enthusiastic about utilizing all workers universally, the European capitalist in Africa had auxiliary cultural justifications for commerce without any reason with the African employees. Earnings and compensations to workers in Europe and North America were found better and advanced than earnings remunerated to African workers in analogous categories. Africans were not considered to be paid sufficient, such discrimination in wages is discussed by a number of writers by illustrating an example where Scottish or German were used to receive a significant amount as salary in an hour what an African was given for a whole week of the same job. Colonial governments discriminated alongside the employment of Africans in superior categories; and, every time it happened that in the similar placement at all the levels, the white man was certain to be compensated significantly and noticeably extra than the African of same caliber. 5. Colonialism as a system for underdeveloped Africa As per Lisa, in Ghana, the outline was 7/4d per individual, and that was elevated by colonial principles. In Nigeria and Nyasaland, it was less than 1/9d per head (1999). At the conclusion of 500 years of shouldering the white man’s encumber of civilizing ‘African natives’, the Portuguese had not managed to educate a solitary African medical doctor in Mozambique, and the life anticipation in Eastern Angola was fewer than 30 years. As for Guinea-Bissau, some approaches to the circumstances were provided by the admittance of the Portuguese themselves that the republic of Guinea-Bissau was more abandoned than Angola and Mozambique (Ezinearticles, 2007). Additionally, the inappropriate social services within Africa, throughout colonial times, were dispersed in a method that reflected the prototype of command and management.  White settlers and expatriates required the principles of the bourgeoisie or specialized module of the metropolis. They were all more stubborn about luxuries in Africa, since numerous of them came from scarcity in Europe and could not anticipate good services in their own homelands. Colonial trend accelerated the trend of the breakdown of African technological insolvency and of African economies. There were many reflections of the fact that the Gold Coast economy was integrated into the British economy, and the Ivory Coast economy was integrated into the French economy, while the neighboring African colonies had little or no effective economic relations. At last, after a long span of almost four centuries, Africans got their independence. It was a long effort to bring their issues in the light in order to secure their future under a few political leaders. Differences like race discrimination, economical loss and social injustice were highlighted to come out of the dark times. By the year 1960, majority in Africa successfully got independence while Bostwana, Zambia, Lesitho, Tanzania and Malawi got rid of European rule in late 1960. Departure of foreign rule brought new opportunities for peasants to ensure growth and prosperity. Europeans military had been eliminated since long but still Europeans have political influence in African. Europeans have great influence over the history of Africa. It was for centuries so it has significantly left its mark over Africans. African history proves that Africa undoubtedly added considerable values to European economy and trade. It opened international links and helped Europe in globalization. African resources also helped Europeans to develop and in strengthening trade links worldwide. Africa has been a source of investment and growth opportunities for Europeans. Europeans utilized African resources, labor and land to expand their trade and dominancy. European market has extensively influenced African market. European goods are comprehensively marketed and found in Africa while on the other hand; African products are not encouraged in European market. Even these days, discrimination and disparity can be observed at peak between the two continents. Current trade situation indicates number of contracts between Africans and Europeans but most of such agreements seem to be initially beneficial to Europeans than the Africans. The European Union had an agreement with the Africans which is known as Interim Economic Partnership Agreements (IEPAs). However, Interim Economic Partnership Agreements influenced European Union to let its former regions to actually enter the market. The United Kingdom, Portugal, France and Netherlands started trading with the Atlantic Coast of Africa. Many of European traders have been dealing with people of West Africa. It seems like Africans and Europeans, in recent times, have been trying to coming out of the dark shade of past by the mean of signing up number of contracts and agreements to ensure future development, prosperity, growth and deals based on mutual benefits. However, there is still a need of cooperation in which media can play a vital role in order to meet the challenges and to ensure a secure future. WORKS CITED Aubrey, Lisa. "Moving Beyond Collective Learning from the Global North and." www.swaraj.org. 1999. 15 Feb. 2010. . Chavis, Rod. "Africa in the Western Media." www.africa.upenn.edu. 1998. 12 Feb. 2010. Davis, Hunt R. "Interpreting the colonial period in African History ." afraf.oxfordjournals.org. 2009. 12 Feb. 2010. . Ezinearticles. "The Sociologic Of Political Silence: Explaining A Discourse In Jamaica's Society." ezinearticles.com. 2007. 15 Feb. 2010. . Krul, M. A. "How Europe underdeveloped Africa." www.amazon.co.uk. 11 May 2009. 17 Feb. 2010. . Martin, Eric. "Interpreting the colonial period in African History ." www.lcsc.edu. 2010. 12 Feb. 2010. . Walter Rodney (1973). How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. London: Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications. 100-400 William , B.. "Africa." www.nationalismproject.org. 1997. 17 Feb. 2010. . 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