Is Africa so very poor because it was colonized or Because it was colonized not long enough.?

Question

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Answer 1

Africa has been constantly exploited by Europeans and Arabs from the last 3000 years.It is the Colonizations that never let the people stand on their feet.The business of Slavery was started by Arabs long before the Roman Empire and most of the slaves were either Africans or the Jews.The Irony is that the slavery still exists in some of the middle east countries like Sudan,Ethiopia and Somalia.

Answer 2

Because it was colonized and then raped of its natural resources and continues to be raped today.

VERY FEW colonies that were colonies for a long time have become developed nations or close to that - Hong Kong being one of the most prominent.

When 65% of the world's diamonds come from Africa yet it is a UK company, De Beers, that reaps lions share of the profits (it controlled 80% of the market at one point but is down to 40% or less now), and little going back to Africa.

Starbucks seemed to have been fighting against Ethipoia's efforts to ensure it made more money from its coffee - "US coffee chain Starbucks is denying Ethiopia earnings of £47m ($88m) a year, according to Oxfam." - but has seem to come around, even planning to increase purchases of East African coffee and pay PREMIUM prices, as well as create other programs to help farmers.

How about cocoa farmers who NEVER tasted the chocolate their crop was used to make before they couldn't afford it? At least now we have "fair trade" chocolate - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17145146/

This is are just SOME of the examples of why Africa is poor and I could go on and on but I cannot and MUST not forget something that is just as important:

The dictators and government officials that have followed after colonialism have done even WORSE than their former colonial masters because they steal from THEIR OWN. When you put all of this together, you get the current situation...but...Idi Amin, the dictator of Uganda, pretty much pointed out that he merely implemented what he learned from his colonial masters.

Answer 3

Africa is poor because for thousands of years there were no major technological advancements. Then in the 1800's European colonists showed up and began taking advantage of the virtually endless supply of natural resources. Within the last 20 years these European influences have been eliminated and control has been given back to the native Africans. Only problem is that they don't have the slightest friggin clue as to how to maintain a successful economic system that can compete on the global market! So now they're back to where they started before the Europeans arrived. Only now they have guns, AIDS, and absolutely no control over the violence that runs uncontrolled across the entire continent.

Answer 4

Africa is rich in resources, but they have been mismanaged so greatly that most of the nations are poor. Many African leaders give away rights of resources to foriegn nations for large up front amounts of money, but the lands generate far more money, all of which goes to the foriegn country that owns the rights they bought for cheap.

Answer 5

there are some very persuasive arguments for both, but you'll find only one is politically correct. Some Indian scholars have pointed out that they are doing just fine thanks to English education, government and opportunity. but most point to the fact that colonisation was done without regard to ethnic or tribal borders, lumping enemies in territories and cutting others off. certainly ethnic tension and instability cause poverty. Goverments also struggle for legitimacy when trying to govern a country that doesn't see itself as a country. laws are not followed, taxes are not paid, civic participation is low.
they also implemented structures of government and law alien to the customs and traditions on the ground, so they weren't taken up, but have remained as we accept nothing else. economically, we depend on their poverty so it was started with colonisation but has persisted thus far. Without their cashcrops we would have to pay too much for raw materials, even though these cash crops rob families of food and income, and strip the land. If you were going to follow this line of argument, you would have to conclude that the vast majority of third world scholars and many in the developed world believe that colonialism has never indeed ended. (see dependency and internal dependency theory, very interesting).... ok i'm done :)

Answer 6

Individual countries in Africa chose to sell their own people into slavery 400 years ago which continues to this day. African leadership is corrupt and the people pay a terrible price. Nothing has changed but the faces of the players.

Answer 7

Africa is not poor entirely, if you take a look at south Africa it is one of the richest in the world. The other parts are not well populated and is so big that it requires a lot of effort to get to those people

Answer 8

Africa is poor becasue of the corrupt governments that rule the countries spend all the money given to them to improve their economies is spent on the finer things in life.

Answer 9

Because it was colonized, read King Leopold's Ghost.

Answer 10

It's poor cause the leaders in the countries are corrupt dictators for the most part.