My favorite comment in the reading is Reader's last sentence in Chapter 34: :"The history of Africa has been the story of an ancient continent and its inhabitants trying to accomidate the conceits of modern humans whose ancestors left the cradle-land 100,000 years ago and who came back 500 years ago, behaving as though they owned the place." I love the imagery! It's just like a college student who comes home for the weekend, parties all night every night, eats all his parent's food, makes a mess of the place, and leaves early Monday morning without ever even saying a word to his parents. Africa is our cradle. Yet we seemed so intent on robbing it once we returned.
I have often wondered if WE ARE THE CAUSE of Africa's predicament. I don't know the answer to that question but I'm glad Porter brings it up. through out this reading I have been impressed with Africa's natural wealth and resources. The Portuguese were amazed with the plenty that they discovered on the continent. Africa had far more gold, spice, ivory, diamonds, fertile soil, and oil (although the importance of it was not yet known) than any European country. In the beggining, Europeans were willing to trade for these goods, but eventually they realized that they could simply take them at will.
What if Black Africans owned all of De Beers' diamond mines? What if Black Africans, instead of the Royal Dutch Shell Group (the world's largest corporation) drilled the oil in the Niger Delta or the Angolan coast? What would Africa be like if the people had been allowed to control their own resources? Today we talk about the need for foreign direct investment and the need for African nations to attract foreign firms to build factories in Africa and provide jobs. Well, what about the Africans themselves owning these factories? Why must the greater portion (i.e. the equity) of all Africa's resources always end up in the hands of white foreigners? When will we let Africa rule its own enterprise? Even while South Africa grows and creates new businesses, how many of these business are owned by European decendents (although they are African citizens)?
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I am familiar with a great example of Africans controlling their own resources. In amibia the control of wildlife and national parks has been handed over to the villages located closest to the parks. This is kown as Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). If you'd like to hear about it, hear is an excellent podcast: http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2008/09/karol_boudreaux_1.html
ReplyDeletethat's "Namibia" not "amibia"
ReplyDeleteThey're in a really bad situation there in amibia.
ReplyDeleteBryson, I enjoyed your comment, but I take issue with it. First of all, "we" didn't screw up Africa. By the time any of us was born, Africa was already screwed up. I do believe there's some moral imperative to act, but not out of guilt - I, personally, am not responsible for Africa's non-development.
The counterfactual is interesting ("what if....?") but I think studying the history is important to get a better handle on the current problem. With a historical perspective and understanding, we can learn what our government is doing to perpetuate the problems and (hopefully) what can be done to stop that. If we could go back in time, maybe we'd change Dias' and da Gama's voyages, but that's water under the bridge.
As an aside, the United States' economy is also run by immigrants.
I appreciate your comment Christopher. Pardon my usage of "we." By "we" I should have clarified "white people's ancestors."
ReplyDeleteI agree it is important to not look at this as a "what if?" issue. That will accomplish nothing. My question has do to more with "how?" How can African growth be facilitated in such a way that Africans are able to take ownership of their own resources instead of selling them for pennies to foreign investors. I believe foreign investors would certainly be able to provide jobs and increase quality of life. However, I believe the ideal situation would be where Africans own those resources themselves
Naturally Bryson, you know I can't help but absolutely second your concerns. I feel like the Reader text has really help me place a lot of the blame, that I often put on the U.S., where it deserves to be. Its like Chris pointed out with his comment: "we" didn't screw up Africa, it was long colonized before we reached it. But I will say we've done a mighty fine job at perpetuating the peripheral state of African nations.
ReplyDeleteIt is so interesting that a country with such bountiful resources in so inept on the world stage (not to be too redundant). I find myself almost dreamily thinking of the way Africa would be without our constant pilfering of the continent. But then I think, lets stop dreaming, and start doing something about it. Ya know, my 3rd world development class has really made me think proactively about the development of such impoverished and needy nations. This comment is kind of going nowhere fast, but, Bryson, just know: I hear ya, and I'm with ya.
Lets be the change we want to see.
:)
This is a bit of a side note, but Carly's comment reminded me of it. As you know, I am in Peru working mildly in development. this week as I was riding in the micro (which is a wagon car crammed with 11 other people), I found myself thinking about the poverty in this nation. The people we work with only make enough money to buy their absolute necessities. Many will never have the luxuries of traveling to another country,going to the movies, or even having a meal for flavor rather than for nutrients. I pitied them. But then I remembered how happy and alive these people are, despite their meager circumstances. They dance, they play soccer, they socialize, I feel as if they are more alive than we are. Their lives haven't been complicated by wealth. Then, I envied them. I couldn't help but second guess my motives for helping them develop. I was also reminded of the question Bryson posed on a train in Switzerland-does Africa need to be fixed?
ReplyDeleteOh how I miss Peruvian cuisine! The rice is SO good in Peru; not to mention all the amazing dishes.
ReplyDeleteThere are many that fear that if not done correctly Africa will fall even farther down the road of dependency theory, where they are exploited for their natural resources only and depend on foreign goods and technology. Forign direct investment can be good but it also can make them more dependent because in the global economy you have a self sufficiency paradox. The more you become self sufficient the less you can take advantage of comparative advantage. The more you take part in comparative advantage the more dependent you become. Africa is caught in this paradox.
ReplyDelete