Isn't it a just a little bit patronising to suggest that African countries need an "infrastructure???"

Question

I mean, just because "western" or "developed" countries have an infrastructure, why do people always assume that African countries should have one too, even although the concept of having- let alone MAINTAINING- an infrastructure obviously just does not work for them. I mean, they have managed for hundreds of thousands of years without one . So why should we try to make them conform to Western Ideals?

Answer 1

Can I ask you why then tens of thousands are flocking to islands in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic to escape from Africa? They're making long journeys in small unseaworthy boats to get asylum in any part of Europe they can reach. Several estimates I have read put the number drowned in these ventures at thousands. This shows their great desperation to escape from the various countries they came from. Most of sub-Saharan Africa is a festering sore on the planet and in which people seem unable to care for themselves with or without an infrastructure. Frankly my interest in this is completely self-centred. I simply do not want to be swamped by uneducated peoples who are carrying many diseases into western society and who will also be a great drain on our economies. We do not owe the countries of Africa anything.

heavenlyhaggis

Answer 2

I think the bigger is question, is "Isn't it just a little bit patronising to tell other African governments how to run their economies?".

Most Africans used to be self-sufficient in the way that people many in the West can only dream of, but colonialism changed all that. When the European invaders created "countries" out of diverse groups of tribes they rapidly built infrastructure so that the natural resources (gold, diamonds, iron ore, etc.) could be transported out and back to Europe as quickly as possible. After independance these tribes fought for control (just as they did in Europe a few centuries earlier) and the US among others decided to exploit the wars by funding militias to gain control of valuable resources. Rapid capitalisation/modernisation and unfair trade sanctions ruined most African economies, so when OPEC hiked oil prices in the 70's to piss off the US, most African nations were too poor to pay the higher prices and borrowed huge amounts from international banks. When the poorest nations couldn't pay up year after year, the IMF and World Bank (mostly controlled by Washington), decided to "help" them by offering to transfer the debt to lower interest payments - but only if these African countries agreed to give over almost complete control of their economy to the US, whoops, I mean the IMF.

The strings that came attached to the new loans, called "structural adjustments", forced Africa to increase exports at whatever cost - environmental, social, political,... And in turn, this required more infrastructure. So, finally, the colonial control is back and the West, once again, uses infrastructure to rape Africa.

From my own experience (researching across Kenya) most Africans want better infrastructure, but get frustrated that the new roads are always built to foreign factories rather than local farms.

Answer 3

Because of the lack of infrastructure or modernisation they suffer like they did thousands of years ago. Oh here's a good idea, lets get rid of all the infrastructure and all go live in a tree - would that make you happy?

Answer 4

I'm from Africa and despite what people (who've never been to Africa believe) there is lots of infrastructure.
It's just the West doesn't want to see pictures of Africans in supermarkets, houses and airports.
My one friend from school in South Africa once told me that despite her parents and herself living in a proper house, with running water etc. her grandmother insisted on living in a hut, so it was a personal choice.
Africa might have more natural surrounds than the rest of the world, but does not lack infrastructure.

Answer 5

98% of the people in Nigeria do not have telephones.

Do you think we "forced" the 2% to get them?

Do you realize what instant communication did to revolutionize this country?

Conform, hell! All one billion Chinese citizens want cars, cell phones and washing machines. You want to stop them?

How are they going to get those things without infrastructure? Where are they going to get the electricity? Where are the roads to deliver the goods?

Yeah, you go over there and lay down in front of their bulldozers. Go hug a tree.

Answer 6

they are in chaos and need one. the left hand does not know what the right one is doing. in the history of man all successful civilizations have had an infrastruture. without one chaos always sets in and all is lost. it is not a westeren idea or ideal. they dont live in a food belt like us but in a jungle and desert filled land. life is not as easy for them so they need to make a plan. the people are starving in many parts and they have to much infighting. you need to study some history as you can tell i am not pandering for points. you must be young and not know much. there is still time for you to learn.

Answer 7

building infrastructure is the best way to help the economy.
African countries wish to modernize, raise standard of living, etc.
It all means increase the GNP and the best catalysts are - Education, Infrastructure and more.

Answer 8

I think it's those mass population die-offs due to famine, disease, and warfare that call for a bit of infrastructure and governance.
Just a thought eh? Millions of people's lives?

Answer 9

Having an infrastructre is important for transferring goods from one place to another. Without it it is difficult to transport food and medicines and people die.

Answer 10

Living like savages in the jungle is not a very civilized way to live. I'm sorry if you don't agree. That's just my opinion.