Poverty In Africa and The Western colonization

The Aftermath of European imperialism in Africa.

Image 1: European colonization of Africa in 1884.

A majority of African countries are significantly behind the western world in terms of economic prosperity and social progress. Many parts of the African continent are plagued by challenges such as armed conflict, food insecurity, corrupt systems of governance, unemployment, and lack of infrastructure (Willis & Hamon, 2018). As a result, many Africans suffer from extreme poverty. The eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, which is the first of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), is a key agenda for international development bodies. Between 1990 and 2015, extreme poverty rates across the globe were reduced by half (Mosoetsa & Francis, 2019). However, Africa is the only region in the world where the target of halving poverty rates was not achieved. According to a report by the World Bank released in 2015, approximately 45% of countries in the sub-Saharan region were worryingly behind in the attainment of the MDG targets of poverty and hunger eradication (Mosoetsa & Francis, 2019). It is important for citizens in those countries as well as the international community to collaborate in determining the causes of poverty on the African continent and the most appropriate solutions to the problem.

Image 2: Reductions in global poverty rates between 1990 and 2015

The causes of poverty in African are historical and systematic. The problems bedeviling Africa currently can be traced back to the 15th century during the era of rife slave trade whose negative impacts are evident even today. The end of the slave trade was followed in quick succession by European imperialism and the colonization of Africa during which the population was subjected to social injustices, lost a large amount of its natural resources, and was subjected to foreign control that persists in the contemporary context (Willis & Hamon, 2018). There have been documented accusations of the involvement of the west in destabilizing certain African regions for economic and geopolitical gains. In addition to western influence, the low literacy levels in Africa and inefficient economic systems contribute to a perpetual cycle of poverty that has constrained efforts by various countries to foster economic growth.

Image 3: African children suffering from malnutrition

To guide my research I have choose to focus on three questions. First, what are the main causes of poverty in Africa? Secondly, what impacts did European imperialism leave in Africa? Lastly, How can we solve poverty in Africa? A solution for poverty is not going to be easy to fulfill but we will see later in this story map what are possible solutions for poverty. The issue of poverty in Africa is related to the Human Geography course through the complexities of how geographical patterns and population distribution characteristics interact to influence economic and societal development (Lawson, 2012). Some scholars in the human geography field have coined the concept of the geography of poverty which refers to the interplay between the natural endowments of a region, its human capital, the conditions of the location such as climatic characteristics, and other forms of geographical capital in determining a region's economic prosperity (Perseveranda, 2020). The concept of geography of poverty attempts to develop connections between a location's geography, people, and industry to understand its overall poverty rates as well as per capita. Therefore, the investigation of the causes of poverty in Africa and the possible solutions is relevant in the context of the Human Geography course and can help us to understand the interplay between Africa's geographical characteristics and its poverty challenges.

Image 4: Africa's map in 2018

Asongu, S., & Le Roux, S. (2018). Understanding Sub-Saharan Africa’s Extreme Poverty Tragedy. International Journal of Public Administration42(6), 457-467. doi: 10.1080/01900692.2018.1466900

African countries can emancipate themselves from poverty by focusing on economic governance instead of the predominant political governance systems. As mentioned in the article, a study which was inspired by the World Bank report on the poor performance of Sub-Saharan African countries concerning the MDG goal of poverty eradication, focuses on a qualitative and empirical analysis of ways in which the Washington Consensus and Beijing Model approaches to economic development can be reconciled to solve the poverty problem in Africa. The findings of the study show that Sub-Saharan African countries can attain inclusive development targets by adopting economic governance strategies as opposed to political governance.

Image 5: Members of a Malawian women's savings and loans group using bicycles to ease their mobility during business errands

The article is relevant for the research objectives of this topic because it addresses a major strategy of addressing poor economic performance and extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan African countries. The article recommends that African countries should shift their governance approaches from political governance characterized by structural adjustment policies towards economic governance characterized by the development of human capabilities and economic capacities.

Ohiorhenuan, J. (2011). The future of poverty and development in Africa. Foresight13(3), 7-23. doi: 10.1108/14636681111138730

The article by Ohiorhenuan (2011) explores the changes that have occurred in the epistemological foundations of thinking on and managing economic development. Ohiorhenuan (2011) argued that the best contemporary epistemological approach to economic development is one that is not defined by the ideologies of developed nations but one informed by the ideologies of the local population. Economic development and poverty eradication in Africa should be an initiative of Africans and not an imitation of strategies that worked in other regions such as Europe, America, and Asia all of which face different conditions from those in Africa. Ohiorhenuan (2011) also cautioned against having a victim mindset or accepting disparaging narratives from developed countries that portray Africa as a special case.

Image 6: A farmer embracing greenhouse farming

The article by Ohiorhenuan (2011) highlights some of the causes of poverty in Africa as having a victim mindset and applying strategies that originate from developed western countries. Ohiorhenuan (2011) recommended that the best approach to solving poverty in Africa is to develop an endogenous action plan sustained by the human capital, efforts, and energies of Africans themselves with the support of responsible leadership. The article also identifies one of the impacts of European imperialism today as the disparaging narrative that Africa is a special case which creates a negative image of the continent and dampens the will of the people to work towards economic development.

Bhorat, H., Naidoo, K., & Pillay, K. (2016). Growth, Poverty and Inequality Interactions in Africa: An Overview of Key Issues. UNDP Africa Economists Working Papers 267778. Retrieved from: http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/267778/files/RBA_WPS_1_Growth%2C%20Poverty%20and%20Inequality%20Interactions%20in%20Africa%20%20An%20Overview%20of%20Key%20Issues.pdf

This article investigated the relationship between inequality and poverty levels in Africa. According to the article, Africa has higher levels of inequality as compared to other regions in the world. The article also postulated that the African countries that have significantly reduced their levels of inequality have also experienced substantial levels of economic growth. This shows that inequality is a major contributor to extreme poverty in Africa.

Image 7: A view of a rich suburb bordering a slum in South Africa

The article adds value to the overall understanding of the topic by identifying inequality as a barrier to economic growth and one of the causes of extreme poverty in Africa. The article also recommends several policy interventions to curb inequality including improving agricultural productivity, developing key manufacturing sectors, establishing comparative advantages, building infrastructure, and increasing regulations for mining industries such as through licensing and proper contractual procedures.

Fosu, A. (2014). Growth, Inequality and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Progress in a Global Context. Oxford Development Studies43(1), 44-59. doi: 10.1080/13600818.2014.964195

The effects of income inequality on poverty rates in Africa are severe. According to Fosu (2014), poverty reduction has been substantial in many African countries as compared to the 1980s and 1990s but Africa still lags behind Russia, India, Brazil, and China. Low levels of economic growth and income have impeded efforts on inequality and poverty reduction. For Africa to eradicate poverty, income growth remains the main solution which can only be achieved through efficient economic policies and follow up

Image 8: Political conflict and inequality in Africa 2014-2015

This article adds weight to the study by Bhorat, Naidoo, and Pillay (2016) on the significant impact of income inequality on extreme poverty in Africa. Income inequality impedes economic growth and poverty eradication by creating an unfair distribution of resources and opportunities. The high levels of corruption in Africa and poor governance exacerbate this by channeling large shares of resources to a few wealthy individuals and corporations instead of development programs.

Dwumfour, R., Agbloyor, E., & Abor, J. (2017). Correlates of poverty in Africa. International Journal of Social Economics44(12), 2033-2051. doi: 10.1108/ijse-12-2015-0319

The aim of the study by Dwumfour, Agbloyor, and Abor (2017) was to find out how natural resources, financial development, and remittances can be used to combat poverty in Africa as well as the best channels of transmission using Human Development Index (HDI) as the measure for welfare. The study argued that the effective use of remittances to curb poverty can be maximized if recipients have access to credit to enable them to reinvest the money profitably. The authors also assert that financial development and natural resources can be used effectively in poverty reduction when the poor benefit from the development initiatives in these sectors.

Image 9: Forced labor on a mining site in the Democratic Republic of Congo

This study provides a framework for addressing poverty using natural resources, financial development, and remittances. The study does not focus on income but on the Human Development Index (HDI) as a comprehensive measure of welfare. The framework established by Dwumfour, Agbloyor, and Abor (2017) recommends that Africans should have access to credit to profitably invest remittance receipts and that the poor should be considered in the redistribution of benefits from natural resources and financial development.

Jalusic, V. (2016). The European Legacy in Africa (The African Legacy in Europe). Peace Institute - Institute for Contemporary Social and Political Studies4, 79-96.

The main argument by Jalusic (2015) is that the outcome of European imperialism in Africa is major atrocities and poor political governance systems. Jalusic (2015) also argues that European countries continue to perpetuate a false western image of Africa whereby negative events are portrayed incorrectly to fit their interests. The article gives the example of the Rwandan genocide in which the victims were branded the killers. The article posits that Africa has been unable to grow because of the effects of European colonialism that persist to-date in the form of totalitarian post-colonial regimes that are corrupt and inefficient and which base their power in divisions centered on ethnic tribes or outdated cultural traditions.

Image 10: A depiction of the white "savior complex" in Africa

This article has implications on the topic of poverty in Africa because it highlights the negative implications of European imperialism in Africa. According to the article, European imperialism has led to atrocities, disparaging attitudes, and totalitarian regimes. This article exposes some of the impacts that European imperialism left in Africa which was the second question to guide my research.

Bayeh, E. (2015). The Political and Economic Legacy of Colonialism in the Post-Independence African States. International Journal in Commerce, IT & Social Sciences2(2), 89-93.

The article by Bayeh (2015) argues that colonialism in Africa has had long-lasting effects on its economic and political systems. According to Bayeh (2015), the adoption of the authoritarian and centralized western forms of governance in post-colonial Africa has led to rampant marginalization and exclusion based on ethnic lines. For example, for a long time, many African countries held onto one-party political systems that restricted the freedom of expression and marginalized opposition groups through dictatorial mechanisms of rule. Western imperialism exists to the present and has led to high levels of exploitation that have weakened African economies and their competitiveness globally.

Image 11: The mercenaries that were involved in the failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea in 2004

This article contributes to answering the research question on the impact of European imperialism in Africa. According to the article, European imperialism is a contributor to the marginalization of people in Africa based on factors such as ethnic background or political affiliation. This marginalization has led to an unequal distribution of resources leaving some populations in poverty-stricken conditions.

Conclusion

The challenge of high rates of extreme poverty in Africa is caused by a wide range of factors, some of which are historical such as European imperialism. Through my research, I identified that some of the major causes of extreme poverty to be inequality, focusing on political governance instead of economic governance systems, and flawed epistemological foundations of thinking on and managing economic development. I also concluded that ideologies have a huge role in the potential eradication of poverty from the African continent. Retrogressive ideologies that hinder economic growth and development are perpetuated by both outsiders and Africans themselves. Outsiders, especially developed nations, tend to portray Africa as a failed continent whose people lack the ability to rescue themselves from poverty. Secondly, Africans arguably consider themselves inferior to people from other regions and are lax in their efforts to promote economic prosperity in their nations. However, this attitude may be partly a result of European imperialism in Africa and the persistent exploitation and disparaging narratives from the west.

Image 12: A map of Africa showing natural resource endowment by region

What I learned from the making of this story map allowed me to develop a perspective on the poverty situation in Africa. The Human Geography is concerned with the study of the relationships between the planet and human civilization. The economic endowment of different regions, from that point, This topic connects with the concepts we covered in this course. Consequently, the issue of poverty in Africa can be examined with its geographical disposition and population characteristics. Some of the factors that have been examined include inequality, European imperialism, utilization of natural resources, foreign remittances, and the need to develop positive ideologies for economic growth and development. Africa is a resource-rich continent but whose economic growth and development is constrained by various social and geopolitical issues. The Image above (Image13) shows an overview of natural resource endowments in different regions in Africa which make Africa arguably richer than most other continents. Therefore, the causes and solutions to poverty in Africa are not a lack of resources but a complex interplay between political and socioeconomic inefficiencies. Other continents may have an edge over Africa in terms of poverty eradication and economic prosperity not as a result of an abundance of natural resources but due to better governance and ideologies.

Image 13: Tourists enjoying safari in Tanzania.

References:

Asongu, S., & Le Roux, S. (2018). Understanding Sub-Saharan Africa’s Extreme Poverty Tragedy. International Journal of Public Administration42(6), 457-467. doi: 10.1080/01900692.2018.1466900

Bayeh, E. (2015). The Political and Economic Legacy of Colonialism in the Post-Independence African States. International Journal in Commerce, IT & Social Sciences2(2), 89-93.

Dwumfour, R., Agbloyor, E., & Abor, J. (2017).Correlates of poverty in Africa. International Journal of Social Economics44(12), 2033-2051. doi: 10.1108/ijse-12-2015-0319

Fosu, A. (2014). Growth, Inequality and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Progress in a Global Context. Oxford Development Studies43(1), 44-59. doi: 10.1080/13600818.2014.964195

Jalusic, V. (2016).The European Legacy in Africa (The African Legacy in Europe). Peace Institute - Institute for Contemporary Social and Political Studies4, 79-96.

Lawson, V. (2012).Decentring poverty studies: Middle class alliances and the social construction of poverty. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography33(1), 1-19. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9493.2012.00443.x

Mosoetsa, S., & Francis, D. (2019).Framing poverty and inequality studies in South Africa. Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa101(1), 1-10. doi: 10.1353/trn.2019.0034

Ohiorhenuan, J. (2011). The future of poverty and development in Africa. Foresight13(3), 7-23. doi: 10.1108/14636681111138730

Images Sources:

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Image 1: European colonization of Africa in 1884.

Image 2: Reductions in global poverty rates between 1990 and 2015

Image 3: African children suffering from malnutrition

Image 4: Africa's map in 2018

Image 12: A map of Africa showing natural resource endowment by region

Image 13: Tourists enjoying safari in Tanzania.

Image 5: Members of a Malawian women's savings and loans group using bicycles to ease their mobility during business errands

Image 6: A farmer embracing greenhouse farming

Image 7: A view of a rich suburb bordering a slum in South Africa

Image 8: Political conflict and inequality in Africa 2014-2015

Image 9: Forced labor on a mining site in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Image 10: A depiction of the white "savior complex" in Africa

Image 11: The mercenaries that were involved in the failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea in 2004