What are the causes of African poverty?

Question

I am just wondering I see them dying of AIDS and starving is this a result of colonialism entirely? Surely that can't be the only cause, what do you people think?

Answer 1

It is oppression from the white men.

Answer 2

The causes are legion, and no, colonialism is not the only one, though the region's heritage plays no small part.

One cause yet unmentioned in the answers, and that is gaining economist 'street cred' is commoditization's climb up the value chain. All businessmen rightfully fear commoditization of their product line, as it forces products to compete in a market solely on the basis of cost, thus squeezing profits, thus limiting investment and ingenuity. Once a product has been commoditized, excess profit is eliminated as a source for future development. This happened to the textile industry and to simple manufactures. Then to automotive manufacturing and now to computers.

For the most part, only economies featuring progressive and (perhaps) interventionist governments have been able to focus financial capital/savings and education to force their economy past the first few unprofitable rungs. Japan, the 'Asian Tigers', etc. China is striving for the same. In Africa, where so many governments are dependent on foreign aid, we find governments unwilling to take the interventionist approach - as stigma, and thus less aid, will follow breaking the stict neo-liberal non-interventionist tenents of the 'Washington Consensus'. Japan and the 'Tigers' operated in a freer time, where aid was given to them regardless, as they were bastions against the communist threat.

So, their future is constrained - they need the aid (increasingly with the onslaught of AIDS) and yet they need a government active in the economic life of the country. Today's aid packages seldom allow for both. Also, simple agriculture is crippled by heavily subsidized Western agricultural exports, hampering internal sales as well as exports of African foodstuffs (aid packages also, for the most part, call for the elimination of agricultural subsidies and tariffs - hypocritical, no?).

A dire situation indeed. So many other causes too, but the above certainly an interesting one (glossed over briefly, of course). Be the change.

Answer 3

No, poverty in united statesa. is the call of the guy thats detrimental. certainly all human beings have an equivalent oppurtunity, some greater advantageous than others, to alter into weathly and stay a sturdy existence. it truly is each and each and each and all of the effect of capitalism, now if we've been communist then the government ought to administration all our assest and divide them the two, this could advise the lazy people who did now no longer even choose for to paintings ought to gets a value the same value with the aid of certainty the complicated working guy. Capitalism facilitates persons be aggressive and attempt there superb to succed in existence, with capitalism its all as much as you climate you will or wont be detrimental. Now what you should ask is in a us of a the placement a lot funds could be made and plenty oppurtunities are given, why are persons even with the incontrovertible fact that slumbering on the trains and begging for hand outs whilst a sprint elbow greece can get the customer-friendly guy an prolonged way.

Answer 4

Each country is going to have different reasons, but in a nutshell I think:

1. Power struggles have been over oil, diamonds, land, slaves, etc. While the rest of the world (more or less) has learned that a slow dollar is much better than a quick dime, the African warlords have not. Capitalism and industry thrive in a stable political market with relative security. Africa doesn't have those things. Rather than putting money into infrastructure they put it into more guns.

2. Foreign aid: How do I make money buying and selling shoes, when someone else is getting their shoes for free to sell??? So much is given to Africa with good intentions, however the unintended consequence is to stifle their own industry and make them dependent upon the charity of the west. The attitude in many places is "food and clothes will show up".

3. Financial Aid: For the same reasons above as well as we've given so much to them that they struggle to make the minimum payments on the debt.....debt that has done very little to benefit their countries. Debt is a power and a tool that can be beneficial in the hands of the prudent and dangerous in the hands of the irresponsible. African countries have not used the debt for beneficial purposes, yet still have to pay the price.

The result of the above is that countries have terrible infrastructure which promotes disease, terrible industry, which promotes poverty and crime, and health care.

I think we need to offer all of our foreign aid to a single African country...one that shows the most progress and political stability. Use the funds to build infrastructure and security so that foreign capital can come in and create jobs and opportunities. As that country progresses, it's neighbors will see the benefit and try to model it. Later help another country. Our blanket policy does more harm than good.

Answer 5

As with many causes of poverty, the lack of education goes in both directions: without education, Africans are more likely to be poor and due to poverty, they are unable to have equal access to education.
War and armed conflict has numerous effects from displacing populations to destroying crops and removing people from their land. There are millions of internal and international refugees throughout Africa due to armed conflicts. These people remain at the fringes of society and most often live in abject poverty.
Some refugees have been living in refugee camps for decades with no change in sight. With some conflicts continuing for 20 or 30 years; it makes it very difficult for those surviving such conditions to make long-term plans which could help them find their way out of poverty.
Another major cause of poverty in Africa is land rights and ownership problems. Due to the history of one-crop production and the legacies it has left on the continent, many of the crops grown are not those which are able to feed a nation. They are instead crops which are intended for a “dessert economy” meaning that they are non-essential crops which are destined for consumption for pleasure in the West, (tobacco, sugar, coffee, tea, etc).
The major issue is not only that the countries cannot feed their own populations with what they are producing but that in the trade cycle African nations have little or no power. Since there are many countries selling, but only a few buying, the buyers can strictly control the prices. Since the poor countries have to sell to repay loans, etc they are trapped into going along even when they are convinced that the prices are not fair.

Answer 6

Under colonialism, they were more well fed and have a degree of medical care. Since the end of that period, nothing good has happened to Africa. All foreign aid winds up in the paws of the dictators. Before colonization, medicine was a witchdoctor. "Buildings" were dung and mud huts. Primitive 'schools'. Etc. Since 1960, whites have been the machine trying to keep Africa going.

I say, enough is enough. Mother nature has been trying to wipe this 'race' off the face of the planet and mankind just keeps coming to their rescue.

Answer 7

The cause of African poverty is the same as the cause of every other poverty--the absence of affluence.
Of course, the fact that African people don't go to school, don't work and are innately less intelligent that others contributes.

Answer 8

I think you can lay a lot of it at the feet of Islam which has had them butchering each other for over a thousand years.

It also can be traced to hindering science and progress. Did you know a recent survey of major universities in the middle east found that only 1 in 20 students majored in something other than the Koran?

Answer 9

Money, if Africa were a woman she would have been Raped Robbed beaten and left for dead a thousands times over by the powers that be as men stood by waiting their turn China next in line with an erection

Answer 10

Most of Africa is doing just fine. Other parts should simply not be inhabited, but some insist on it and do not survive.

Answer 11

They dont have jobs, we have to send our missionaries down there to give them food/water everyday because they dont move to where there is food and water. Civil war in that continent is constant and the diamond wars have begun.