Why is Africa so under-developed?
Africa is the world’s second largest continent and the second most populated continent behind Asia. Africa is the poorest and the most undeveloped continent in the world, and is commonly referred to as a ‘Third World Continent’.
The term ‘Third World’ came around during the Cold War to classify countries/continents that remained self-governing with a capitalist or communist government. This definition allows us to categorise the nations of the world into three groups based on social, political, and economic distribution. These groups are; the First World, the Second world and the Third world.
Political reasons for a lack of development-
In the late 19th century, European imperial powers (such as the British Empire) ended up occupying most of Africa. This created colonial territories leaving only Ethiopia and Liberia as the only independent countries.
Britain occupied Egypt, Sudan, Kenya and Uganda, British Somaliland, Zimbabwe and Zambia (Southern and Northern Rhodesia), Botswana (Bechuanaland), South Africa (Orange Free State and the Transvaal), Gambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana (British Gold Coast) and Malawi (Nyasaland). These countries held more than 30% of Africa 's population. Other colonisers were France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
During the time when African countries were colonised, the imperial powers exploited the resources there and left the countries and locals with little.
Civil war is a big issue in Africa. For example, the Rwanda genocide was a mass slaughter of the Tutsis carried out by the Hutus in 1994.
The UN accused Liberian president of supporting The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebellion in neighbouring Sierra Leone with weapons and training in exchange for diamonds. These diamonds are named blood or conflict diamonds. A blood diamond is a diamond mined in a war zone and sold to finance a rebellion, invading army 's war efforts.
These are just two of the famous civil wars that can hinder
The term ‘Third World’ came around during the Cold War to classify countries/continents that remained self-governing with a capitalist or communist government. This definition allows us to categorise the nations of the world into three groups based on social, political, and economic distribution. These groups are; the First World, the Second world and the Third world.
Political reasons for a lack of development-
In the late 19th century, European imperial powers (such as the British Empire) ended up occupying most of Africa. This created colonial territories leaving only Ethiopia and Liberia as the only independent countries.
Britain occupied Egypt, Sudan, Kenya and Uganda, British Somaliland, Zimbabwe and Zambia (Southern and Northern Rhodesia), Botswana (Bechuanaland), South Africa (Orange Free State and the Transvaal), Gambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana (British Gold Coast) and Malawi (Nyasaland). These countries held more than 30% of Africa 's population. Other colonisers were France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
During the time when African countries were colonised, the imperial powers exploited the resources there and left the countries and locals with little.
Civil war is a big issue in Africa. For example, the Rwanda genocide was a mass slaughter of the Tutsis carried out by the Hutus in 1994.
The UN accused Liberian president of supporting The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebellion in neighbouring Sierra Leone with weapons and training in exchange for diamonds. These diamonds are named blood or conflict diamonds. A blood diamond is a diamond mined in a war zone and sold to finance a rebellion, invading army 's war efforts.
These are just two of the famous civil wars that can hinder