They have the weapons, the strength, people and resources. I know they did this in the past and I AM NOT ADVOCATING anything but it makes me wonder if they want stuff like diamonds, oil, coal, aluminum, tin and gold, couldn't they just EASILY steal it and not pay them anything?
2007-02-22 18:33:21 · 5 answers · asked by lolo_hackey 1 in Social Science ➔ Economics
Been there, done that.
The European powers of the 19th century did just that and divided the continent among themselves. Gradually they pulled out after the Second World War. The problem they eventually ran into is that running foreign possessions can be bloody expensive and people typically don't like to be ruled by foreigners out to steal their resources.
The West could take Africa, but they would not be able to put down the inevitable insurgencies. That and simply running the continent would severely cut into the profitability of such an endeavor.
Experience has made the west a little more subtle in their approach and now less costly indirect means to take the resources of Africa are used. Such means have come to be referred to by many as neocolonialism.
To sum things up briefly, in the present day, economic clout has supplanted military supremacy as the dominant means of exploitation by the West in Africa.
2007-02-22 18:38:24 · answer #1 · answered by Ape Ape Man 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think it is currently happenin gright in fron tof our nose. it's just not called colonisation or invasion, but in their subtle way, the West is having access to africa's resources without paying for it. See the history of the Steel company in Liberia, whcih the new president had to fight and kick out. the wars that are provoked and maintained in Sierra Leone, ex-Zaire/DRC, Angola, for so many years, behind the scnes of wars, western companies made huge profits in stealing and smuggling gold and dimanond and minerals. Even if the country is at peace, they are accomplices with some of our own african presidents to take resources and close their eyes on corruption, illegal wealth and those sorts of things. I am not naive, what you are saying IS actually happening.
2007-02-22 23:34:34 · answer #2 · answered by Lisa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We already buy oil & diamonds from africa,
and it costs less than invading and occupying these countries.
2007-02-23 06:59:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the United Nations was created to stop this kinda stuff..
2007-02-22 18:40:29 · answer #4 · answered by Sean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hopefully we'll get away from that sort of thinking one day. We do have a few cultural restraints at least.
2007-02-22 18:37:21 · answer #5 · answered by nursesr4evr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋