Why is Africa less developed than other continents?
Geography, geology, tourism and environmental science discussion, revision, exam and homework help.
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Why is Africa less developed than other continents?Hey, the question is in the title lol XD im really stuck on this...all i can think of is because of political instability, companies are reluctant to invest there, dry climate means less useful resources, lack of people who able to pay for foreign goods so companies dont go there...if anyone has any answers id appreciate it! =) thanks
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?Parts of Africa (continent) are doing OK.
But as a whole there is lots of corruption.
Edited: you could write loads about this from political instability to the hatred of corportations/the west due to the slave trade etc. Weather, climate, location, wars, trust, communication links, pay, government policies, religion etc all pay a part plus a whole lot more including culture, society and education.Last edited by Puma; 08-10-2009 at 17:08. -
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?Corruption (although I suppose that could come under political instability...) In some cases there are also problems with an over reliance on aid. You should read 'Dark Star Safari' by Paul Theroux; it's an excellent insight into many of the problems in Africa.
But Africa isn't a country. There are some countries that don't do too badly as well, so it's not always accurate to generalise.Last edited by heidigirl; 08-10-2009 at 17:07. -
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?Other countries?
Africa has very few problems - or rather all its ills are symptoms of a few deep problems. Namely corruption. Africans have a tribal mindset "You want to build here? My dad is village chief - what do you buy him?" etc. -
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?Fail. Africa is not a country.(Original post by Kai Hiwatari)
Hey, the question is in the title lol XD im really stuck on this...all i can think of is because of political instability, companies are reluctant to invest there, dry climate means less useful resources, lack of people who able to pay for foreign goods so companies dont go there...if anyone has any answers id appreciate it! =) thanks
Anyway-think about WHY there is political instability etc etc. (ie have a think about the history of Africa) -
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?Looking at the history of Africa won't tell you a lot. Other parts of the world had it much harder then Africans did and are doing much better today.(Original post by Lell)
Fail. Africa is not a country.
Anyway-think about WHY there is political instability etc etc. (ie have a think about the history of Africa)
The answers lie in African society and culture.
If you want you can contrast it to Japan - the only non-western country to successfully modernise for a very long time. -
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?Wrong, Africa has one of the best natural resource endowments of any region of the world. Look at mining, agriculture in Africa was massive in areas ran by white farmers etc...the problem is black farmers or more rather the culture, politics and education of black farmers.(Original post by KiiNGofLONDON)
Inadequate natural resources.
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?While I agree that other parts of the world have had it hard, I would still hold that at least some of the explanation lies in Africa's history.(Original post by Rule Britannia)
Looking at the history of Africa won't tell you a lot. Other parts of the world had it much harder then Africans did and are doing much better today.
The answers lie in African society and culture.
If you want you can contrast it to Japan - the only non-western country to successfully modernise for a very long time. -
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?Africa has plenty of natural resources. That's where most of Africa's GDP comes from.(Original post by KiiNGofLONDON)
Political instability.
Inadequate natural resources.
Lack of education.
Many small, isolated communities - prone to war.
The list goes on tbh... -
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?Are Australia and New Zealand western, or do they not count?(Original post by Rule Britannia)
Looking at the history of Africa won't tell you a lot. Other parts of the world had it much harder then Africans did and are doing much better today.
The answers lie in African society and culture.
If you want you can contrast it to Japan - the only non-western country to successfully modernise for a very long time. -
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?(Original post by Rule Britannia)
Wrong, Africa has one of the best natural resource endowments of any region of the world. Look at mining, agriculture in Africa was massive in areas ran by white farmers etc...the problem is black farmers or more rather the culture, politics and education of black farmers.Ah the intricacies of language. Both of you have taken 'inadequate' to mean something along the lines of 'not enough'. That is not what inadequate meant in the context in which I used it.(Original post by Sakujo)
Africa has plenty of natural resources. That's where most of Africa's GDP comes from.
Have either of you ever heard of 'Dutch Disease'? If not I suggest you both pick up a copy of Paul Collier's 'The Bottom Billion', and pay particular attention to chapter 3. The distribution of resources in Africa has played a major part in Africa's inability to keep up with the rest of the developing world. -
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Re: Why is Africa less developed than other countries?colonisation which screwed up the 1000s of existing community boundaries + decolonisation + untrained, incompetent, corrupt leaders + geography (climate hospitable to diseases / big desert etc) + screwed even now by the West (CAP subsides etc --> our farmers have an unfair advantage) + loads of other **** = mess
