The Problems of Africa.

[Abdulmajid]

Us British have had a few wars with African nations over the years (Suez, Sudan and the against the Boers etc) but with the recent statement by the odious Mugabe stressing our actions have resulted in many of the worse nations etc, can anybody briefly tell me how Britain is DIRECTLY responsible for the troubles in the Dark Continent?

My knowledge of African history and the sociological significance of our Crusades and Imperialism fail to reach a satisfactory conclusion to my question.

[jno]

Britain ruled the place for a century or so but failed to leave a smooth-running democracy in place, perhaps because of the inequality imposed under colonial rule. On the other hand, this hasn't seriously troubled India, which was left in good shape, or Hong Kong, which was ticking over nicely when it was handed back.

You could reasonably argue that Mugabe's been in power for nearly 30 years and has had ample time, and international goodwill and funding, to sort it out; but he hasn't.

[mightyWBA]

Blaming the British Empire for Africas problems is like us blaming the Romans for our crap roads.
Apart from Watling Street,sorry the A5.
Bloody Romans!

[jake-the-peg]

Were the Crusades in Africa then?

Must have been asleep during that lesson

[ruby27]

The answer to your question is a bit dependant on where the answerer is on the political spectrum.

Very crudely

You on the right would exonerate the west, Britain in particular and blame the problems on Africa

Someone on the left may blame imperialism/colonization and exonerate the African country.

Most rational people will accept that colonization has had a huge impact. The cultural impact of colonialism is evident on languages, religions and traditions, the loss of native culture with the imposition of an import in such a short space of time leads to instability. Generally, the prevailing impact of colonialism points towards the weakness of decision-makers and leaders. That legacy lives on.The exploitation of African countries, the draining of resources and the consequent growth of dependency all evidence that there was a negative impact which to a degree is still impacting. mostly ex-colonies countries are extremely poor today which leads to a reliance on developed nations regarding loans, technology, military support, markets and culture. So hey they still need to by the West's products such as munitions and medicine - its win win for us.

jno the colononisation of Africa and India had differences particularly in terms of use of local population, In India we used the administrators which left a working infrastructure, we also exported Indian's to African to run administrations under our control. Not sure why there were differences but it did result in different legacies

I mean the whole subject is vast, there are countless studies and programmes on the subject and there isn't a definitive answer probably.

[paddywak]

You must also remember that it wasn't just the British who had colonies in Africa (tho we were the major coloniser) many other European countries joined the great African land grab and even tho our record might not be particularly
good it was excellant when compered to some regimes the Belgiums for instance had a terrible reputation for their treatment of natives in the Congo.Also many of these countries on gaining indepence fell into the control of African dictators (Mugabe & Idi Amin to name just two)
who themselves resorted to the old tribalism which in turn has lead to the many intances of Genocide such as occurred in Rwanda. I agree that the western colonisers must share some of the blame but to be fair Britain alone is not responsible for all the ills of Africa, look at the many countries colonised by Britain thro out the world and most have developed into well run normal countries

[juliacornwal]

Well whether we do or do not hold responsibility for the African countries one thing's for sure. Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe, natives in their native land, have done no favours for their own people at all. Nelson Mandela has to be a great and shining example of how to do the right thing but what a shame a few more aren't like him!

[Abdulmajid]

jake-the-peg

I am fairly confident that one of our Crusades ended in Tunis. If memory serves me right Tunis is in Africa

But you are probably right, so thanks for your deep comment.

[jake-the-peg]

Does your knowledge of African history tell you who invented the concentration camp?

http://www.historywiz.com/didyouknow/concentra tioncamp.htm

Let me know if you require more depth

[Abdulmajid]

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/stbernrd.html

Jake-the-peg.

Here is a link on facts about St. Bernard dogs. It is probably more relevant than your link to the subject matter.

If you require any further clarification, maybe visit your local RSPCA centre

[jake-the-peg]

Oh sorry I misread your question.

Of course Britain brought peace and love to the poor benighted fuzzy-wuzzies who's little brains couldn't cope and so they went back to killing and eating each other the moment the nasty Liberals made us give up the Empire.

Alas we've relinquished the white man's burden and Britain is no longer Great.

We can regain it though lets kick out anyone with a sun tan and go back to pounds, shillings and pence and pounds and ounces!

A land where the pomposity of the right sort of people is seen as a virtue and one can post the biggest load of obnoxious bilge and still be treated with respect!

I can't frankly understand why anyone bothered to give you a sensible reply.

I especially don't understand why you think you deserve one

[Abdulmajid]

Perhaps jake-the-peg they chose to answer for the following reasons:

1) This is a public Q&A site

2) People do have opinions, believe it or not, that differ from yours

3) I have posted a serious, non-prejudicial question

4) I wanted to know the answer

5) People chose to answer on their own free will

6) And why not.

May I respectfully request that if you are so anti-British and hate all what we once stood for, you pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and bu66er off to the Dark Continent and repent our sins from a bygone era.

For a few years you have berated Ol' Blighty to the point where you would have once been hung for treason.

And to be brutally honest if Kitchener said "Britain Needs You" in some retrospective time travel thingy, I am certain he woulld not mean you.

You are an arrogant, pompous, ego-centric tw@t, who has this air of grandiose about his person all because you probably have a few more O Levels than the average Brit.

Well sonny Jim, may I suggest you save your keypad and untold energy if you really have nothing important to say.

I fail to see the point, I really do.