Analysis of African Problems - Essay Example

Geo-political issues None would argue that the word Africa associates with poverty, famine, high death rate and prolonged civil wars in different parts of this continent. The colonial legacy of Africa is one of the main social and political breaks of the majority of African countries. Having a very short history of independence some 50-40 years only, African nations failed to establish political organization similar to one of major European countries and based on representative democracy. There is a number of obvious reasons for such uneasy situation: African territories were used as a mineral donor for major European supper powers: England, France, Belgium and Germany since the 19th century. Multi ethnic population of the continent, which is represented by different tribes with different culture and religious values, had nearly no experience of living in the politically organized society with vivid social and political hierarchy, Europeans of course didn't promote these values during the centuries of colonial expansion. The number of illiterate population in Africa is one of the highest on the planet and it affected future instability, as those people had no idea of how they should manage their political freedoms and independence. Right after African liberation, new independent states became among the central issues in spheres of influence of two super powers the USA with NATO and the USSR. Both superpowers had definite interests: British and American oil and mining companies wanted to get unlimited concessions, establishing puppet governments and the USSR wanted to make a bridge head for the future expansion of socialist ideas and perfect material basis on one of the biggest and unexplored continents. Tactics of these two sides was pretty much the same as they both speculated on uneasy nature of mutual relations between different tribes as the majority of African countries are multi-ethnic with a history of prolonged conflicts: "In terms of mineral, Africa has 97% of world reserves of chromium, 85% of platinum, 64% of gold 50% of manganese, and 25% of uranium, not to mention the all important oil. EEC's dependence on Africa include 95% of its uranium, 46% of Tropical woods 41% of chrome 41% of cocoa, 25% of coffee, 23.3% of manganese, 20% cotton to mention a few."(from Usnan Bugaje, Islamic movements and the political economy in Africa) Understandably mineral resources attract international mining and trade corporations at the same rate as Africa's treasures attracted European colonists. The main problem with developing traditional business and trade relations with African countries was postcolonial legacy and hatred towards Europeans, which was caused by years of exploitation. Europeans were regarded as colonists and invaders, who exploited local population offering nothing for natives. Native inhabitants of Africa never received fair medical treatment or got at least basic education; it's enough to tell that the number of physicians is dozens times less than in the first world countries. Understandably, new governments didn't want to continue interaction with western world on colonial conditions, which existed for centuries of colonization. Political instability, civil wars and genocide in different parts of the continent contributed to the stamp of "outdated" which is often associated with Africa. In many respects with such a number of unexplored forest and mineral resources most of African countries could repeat successful destiny of China, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries of South-Eastern Asia which are well known for quick economical and industrial development. But the main differentiating factor from those states is disorientation and lack of political unity inmost of African countries, as a result the economical growth and rate of investments into Africa remains extremely low if compared to the investments in related industries in other regions of the world: "consequently Africa, with all its population, has barely 3% of world income and its share of world trade is under 5%."."(from Usnan Bugaje, Islamic movements and the political economy in Africa). If to provide numerical financial data about the losses in the civil wars in reference to economical growth and prosperity it can be stated: "Since the last two decades the economic situation had been deteriorating at a frightening rate. By 1991 Africa's share of world trade had dropped to about 2.1%" "Between 1982 and 1987" observed Okigbo "the per capita income of the 17 most indebted countries fell by one seventh, that of Sub-Saharan Africa by one fourth. Investment per capita in Africa"."(from Usnan Bugaje, Islamic movements and the political economy in Africa) There several factors, which contribute to the position of, post colonial Africa on today's world arena: economical -geographical, postcolonial and postmodern. Each of them has both positive and negative influence, as they prevent African nations from direct and gradual integration into the world economical and political institutions. The only thing African nations can offer to the rest of the world are their mineral resources and a big amount of cheap working power. This created a main problem for post colonial nations as the nature of relations between them and the rest of the world was still dictated by the rules established in colonial period, so that former colonist nations have the priority in managing trade and having economical relations with these countries. From this point if to compare opportunities of Africa and South eastern Asia the situation is different. It's important to note that South eastern Asia and China were formally independent and politics of European nations there was the politics of "open doors" which guaranteed equal economical opportunities for foreigners, besides the level of political and social development in Asian countries was higher than in most of African countries. African nations got independence but the power of international corporations with head quarters in former imperial counties remained the same, so that these countries had to establish new agreements, which functioned nearly according to the scheme established in colonial period. The period of modernism in world politics is gone and it affected postcolonial Africa from different sides; societies became disintegrated as the civil wars last in Africa for more than 30 year, as most of them have anti-colonial and anti-globalist slogans. Membership in WTO organization and other economical international unions was not exploited fully with the maximum benefit for the nations. So today postmodern tendencies of seeking national idea, unity and raise of nationalism became very popular in African societies. The growth of oil prices and growth of gold prices motivates African governments to demand equality from foreign companies and foreign investors. For example the experience of Nigeria shows that logical foreign politics can promote funding of social programs, economical growth and subsidizing of the most undeveloped economical sector of the country. But in general it can be concluded that most of postcolonial African nations had lost their opportunities, and today's postmodern tendencies have the negative influence on their economies in general as it often results in civil military conflicts. The main tendency in the economy of the most African countries is that they are turning into mineral suppliers of the first world countries: investing billions into mining, these countries do not spent anything on development of their own industry and infrastructure. The shift of working force from rural areas to megapolisys in oil-rich states led to the decline of tradition agriculture and farming turning vulnerable economies into more dependent upon current oil and petroleum prices. The brightest examples are Angola and Nigeria. It's also important to note that these countries suffered the years of prolonged civil conflicts over the domination of different political groups in the resourceful regions. Another article in instability in equatorial Western Africa are wars over diamond mines: in Angola, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Diamonds have turned into hard currency support for different political revolutionary groups, which practice policy of violence and terror over the local population, and different ethnic groups. The history of Angola since the outbreak of civil conflicts in late 1950s can serve as a classical example of Western African country in postcolonial period. The country experienced nearly 25 years of prolonged civil wars and the guerilla fighters continue to fight with government. The most considerable powers were sponsored by the USSR and Cuba (Popular movement for the Liberation of Angola, which had also support of Luanda's intelligentsia and Portugal communists) and National Liberation Front of Angola (aided by the USA intelligence and Zaire dictators), another considerable power was represented by UNITA- the National Union for Total Independence of Angola. In prolonged conflict the troops of NLFA were defeated by UNITA and PMLA with Soviet and Cuban aid. Today the real political power is in the hands of the two political groups MLA and UNITA. Even though that country has been living in relative stability and peace since 1998 there remains a number of unsolved problems in the social and humanitarian sphere: absence of fair medical treatment, a big number of mine fields in different regions of the country which remain to be unswept and a number of other problems such as lack of qualified professionals in all spheres of life: medicine, education, industry, economy, state management. Due to the high level of corruption, undeveloped and attractive for investment Angolan markets remain to be of low interest for foreign investors. Besides, there remains high possibility of political instability in the country and the popularity of armed opposition may result in outbreak of warfare. "The UN estimates of 1.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), while generally the accepted figure for war-affected people is 4 million. Daily conditions of life throughout the country and specifically Luanda (population approximately 4 million) mirror the collapse of administrative infrastructure as well as many social institutions."( from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola) Despite unlimited opportunities for the developemnt of industrial sector nearly 80-85% of population is emloyed in out-dated agricultural sector. The main article of Angola's export and the guarant of countries stability-oil contributes for nearly 90% of country's exports and 20% of GDP. Oil resources execute the role of the rescure for Angola's government in order to provide social programs. Most of diamond alluvial mines are uncontrolled by government and are centred in the hands of local guerilla terrorist groups. Even though that oil prices skyrocketed in last years it had a little reflection on the situation of Angolan economy in general as economic growth rates remain to be very modest around 5% in 1999-2000. Such economical performance can only wittness that country lacks effective state management and still, the subsidizing of agricultural and industrial sector is very low. Oil industry is not developing in the direction which is essential for the economical security of Angola as it mostly controlled by Texaco, Chevron and British petroleum companies. The growth of GDP in 2004 which is around 11% doesn't wittness much that the country is making considerable steps in economical developemnt as it only reflects economical situation on world arena and growing oil prices. In fact in order to prove this premise it's enough to mention that inflation rate in such a favourable year from the perspective of oil prices was around 48%. Such economical performance only wittesses about weakness of central government which is not able to establish integral economical strategy fo the country for the next 10-15 year. The innormous enmployement rate of nearly 50% of population questions the effectiveness of government policies if to take into consideration the fact that Angola is the second biggest African oil exporter after Nigeria: "Colonial education has not only stunted our initiatives and creativity but much worse it has distorted our vision, including our economic thinking. We have equated economic development with industrialization so that development has come to mean the development of the physical environment but not of man himself. Our love for, some would say obsession with, figures has meant that our idea of economic development has for a long time been centered on rate of growth to the detriment of human welfare itself."( from Usnan Bugaje, Islamic movements and the political economy in Africa) Situation in Nigeria is relatively the same, the only difference is that Nigeria experienced a longer period of stability and appeared to be more economically attractive for foreign investments especially to oil industry and mining. Military confrontations between different local forces happened on the regular basis, so that the country was ranked among the unsafe for foreigners in 1990s. Democratic reforms since 1999 and social programs supported by growing oil prices allowed Nigeria to get into the top of the most developed countries of African continent with modest inflation rate of 11% (2000). Development of oil industry under corrupted and unprofessional government policies led to the decline of agricultural sector. Fast growing population of the country can not be fully provided with home food resources and today Nigeria has to import food from abroad. This politics had created a growing poverty in rural areas, so that the number of people who migrate to urban areas increases. The decline of agriculture can be expressed in the following numbers: " Cocoa production, mostly from obsolete varieties and overage trees, is stagnant at around 180,000 tons annually; 25 years ago it was 300,000 tons. An even more dramatic decline in groundnut and palm oil production also has taken place. Once the biggest poultry producer in Africa, corporate poultry output has been slashed from 40 million birds annually to about 18 million."( from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Nigeria) The situation in Sierra Leone is different from Angola and Nigeria, as prolonged conflict of government troops with Revolutionary United front led to the massive immigration of nearly 2 million people abroad and thousands dead. The situation in the country rich in mineral resources is poorly controlled by government and the number of diamonds and gold mines remains in the hands of local warlords, guerilla leaders and interstate organized crime groups. The number of people who live over the poverty line (68%) witnesses about ruined economy. Sierra Leone and surrounding states represent a regional instability in West Africa, as civil wars paralyze normal life all over the region. The possible lack of international authorities to the conflict in Sierra Leona and absence of the control over corrupted and selfish government, which defends only the interests of elite and doesn't care about making the country more attractive for investment from Europe and the USA had led to the economical stagnation in one of the poorest countries of Africa, which by the way has a high potential. Making a conclusion it's important to note that post colonial legacy of Africa is the main break of gradual developemnt of its economy. As most of African countrie had no previous expreince of coexisting in the world with strict rules and had no experience of central political power it becomes impossible to make any predictions for future, even though the interest in mineral potential of Africa is great. Neither democratic nor totalitarian governments in different African countries appeared to be popular and effective: "The People's Republic of China is recording phenomenal economic growth without democracy. Similarly, countries like Chile and South Korea recorded enviable economic growth rates under military dictatorships. Many African countries are democratizing with mixed results as far as the dividends of democracy are concerned. Even though the evidence supports both sides, Quinn states without hesitation, that dictatorships in Africa have not resulted in any significant sustainable development."(from Didia, Dal Review of African economical development) Economical realities of African economy are reflected in the world prices on raw dimonds, gold, oil and other minerals. Traditionally growing population and absence of anything similar to economical, social and demographic strategy prevents these countries from prosperity. Nations of CentralAfrica have little of experience living under conditions of European democracy when the freedms and rights are protected and when there exists equality. Despite high poverty rate, illiteracy and poor social conditions African countries have a high potential and have a high possibility to turn into strong and stable economies. References: 1. Economy of Nigeria, Wikipedia, Article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Nigeria 2. Economy of Angola, Wikipedia, Article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Angola 3. Usnan Bugaje, Islamic movements and the political economy in Africa available on: www.webstar.co.uk/ubugaje/polecon9.html 4. Angola, Wikipedia, Article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola 5. Sierra Leone Facts, Article http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sl.html#top 6. Didia, Dal Review of African economical developement available from www.westafricareview.com/issue5/didia.htm Read More