Why is Africa underdeveloped?

[BandwidthAddict]

I see that you want this to be a one sided thread and feel threatened for some reason by any other opinion hence you would rather offend me.

I'll leave you to it then because I see this thread being derailed by me trying to defend myself, in instead of some statements I made.

Very well, if you believe slapping down abject idiocy is me "feel(ing) threatened" then so be it. You made a completely ludicrous statement that is falsified by the billions of people who strive to be as rich and capable as those in the Western World. Beyond that, where in the universe did you pull the idea that Africans are happy with their situation? Have you just decided to overlook all the wars, the starvation, the constant migration from one brief oasis of stability to another. Where is the evidence of African happiness? If Africans are happy to be subsistence primitives, why do they brave extreme dangers and pay such costs to smugglers so they can live in Europe and South Africa?

I'm not saying that none are happy to live as subsistence primitives, but you paint Africa with a very wide brush and nothing to support that assertion other than something you once read about an American Indian or something, whatever.

I do not believe that Africans are happy with their situation. I believe that the nature of the majority of Africans precludes taking steps towards Civilization because they reject it even though they desire the fruits. I back up my assertion of rejection because Civilization has come many times to Africa trying to show the Way. Civilization is now in Africa trying to show the Way. With all that Civilization has done to show and teach the Way, the fact that Africans remain uncivilized proves rejection. Further more, South Africa as a case in point, was Civilized and now with Africans in the majority, South Africa is slipping away from Civilization. With all the knowledge and skills available in South Africa, with all the resources at hand, even here, where it should have been a slam dunk, Civilization is being rejected. Beyond stating the obvious, I cannot make any assertions as to the reason behind the rejection, only that the rejection is evident.

I use the term Orc as, for me, the symbology associated with the classical fantasy archetype describes those that would reject or aid in the rejection of Civilization. Orcs "simplify"; Civilization is a complex structure but Orcs are very primitive and have very simple needs.

 

[Sly21C]

We can debate as to why Africa is under-developed all we want but the truth of the matter is the largest economic growth will occur in Africa. European countries and the USA will be happy with a 2%/3% GDP growth, but African countries are doing 6% and 8% in some cases. Forget China, it will soon become an aging population. Africa is truly the last economic frontier.

 

[jambai]

We can debate as to why Africa is under-developed all we want but the truth of the matter is the largest economic growth will occur in Africa. European countries and the USA will be happy with a 2%/3% GDP growth, but African countries are doing 6% and 8% in some cases. Forget China, it will soon become an aging population. Africa is truly the last economic frontier.

Yes ,but with great risk comes great returns.Is this growth trickling down and improving the standard of living of the average african.Need a solid efficient government for true results to be seen.It has come a long way but still has a long way to go!

 

[Polymathic]

The main reason is that most African Countries have failed to industrialise effectively. before Western Europe Industrialised it was pretty similar to Africa today in terms of poverty in rural areas. then you look at Asian countries like Japan and Korea which 60 years ago had rural impoverished working the farms and today are economic super powers in their own right.
that said the former British colonies in Africa are way better off than other African countries because unlike other colonist the British built some infrastructure in these countries and as well as some processing plants to a small degree

 

[noxibox]

Yes ,but with great risk comes great returns.Is this growth trickling down and improving the standard of living of the average african.Need a solid efficient government for true results to be seen.It has come a long way but still has a long way to go!

There is no requirement for a solid efficient government. A number of European countries and the US developed with corrupt governments.

Why is it that European nations,the U.S or rather simply put nations in the west seem to be ages ahead of countries in africa, asia and south America?

South America is in the west. What differentiates the areas you mention is that they were used as chess pieces in the conflict between the US and USSR, amongst other reasons wealthier countries had to deter advancement.

What Impedes the development of states in the aforementioned continents?

Can and will countries such as the central African republic,Guatemala and Somalia ever really develop and how can such development come about?

There are examples of countries in the east I believe that have developed rapidly in a short space of time, if they can do it seriously what is stopping other countries from attaining the same growth?

African countries are developing fast. Many of these countries only really came into existence in the very recent past. Overall they're not particularly different to the US and Europe not too long ago, so there is no reason to expect they will not develop.

Modern impediments that might slow them down though are the diseases of sustainable development and risk aversion. Sustainable development can be overcome if the wealthy nations fund it, when it costs more or is less efficient. Risk aversion is hard to treat once it takes hold, as we're witnessing in developed countries.

 

[noxibox]

I believe that the nature of the majority of Africans precludes taking steps towards Civilization because they reject it even though they desire the fruits. I back up my assertion of rejection because Civilization has come many times to Africa trying to show the Way. Civilization is now in Africa trying to show the Way. With all that Civilization has done to show and teach the Way, the fact that Africans remain uncivilized proves rejection. Further more, South Africa as a case in point, was Civilized and now with Africans in the majority, South Africa is slipping away from Civilization.

What a load of utter rubbish.

 

[BandwidthAddict]

What a load of utter rubbish.

Why? What is your rebuttal?

 

[TelkomUseless]

We can debate as to why Africa is under-developed all we want but the truth of the matter is the largest economic growth will occur in Africa. European countries and the USA will be happy with a 2%/3% GDP growth, but African countries are doing 6% and 8% in some cases. Forget China, it will soon become an aging population. Africa is truly the last economic frontier.

with out strikes (killing the economy).. I would love to see SA getting 5% growth...