Dissertation on Africa after getting independence
1. Introduction
"After independence we will have to stand on our own and rely on our own resources, the unifying force, the cement…which had hitherto been supplied by the United Kingdom Government will be removed, and will have to be replaced by new virtues of our own which must be capable of keeping all the diverse elements of the country together, in mutual trust and harmony and with a common national purpose."(Awo, the Autobiography of Chief Obafemi Awolowo of Nigeria).
Before the World War II the very small part of Africa was free from external influence and tight control. Only Liberia for many years was the only one independent African nation. During the nineteenth century America was helping Africa to gain its independence.
We can write a custom dissertation on Africa for you!
Generally speaking Africans themselves are very impatient to get on the business itself and with the business of modernizing their land, educating their people, improving their standards of living and governing selves. And that is actually considered the main reason for this country to be in turmoil.
2. Situation in Northern Africa and Other Parts of the Country regarding Independence
After the Second WW there were very much unrest in North Africa, which countries were hostile towards France and its influence. But it must be said that after the several decades of French domination in that areas a lot of improvements were brought to people. ( Lewin, 1990)
After the war, people of the colonies, that were owned and governed by French, decided that there is already time for them to rule themselves. There was a very sharp contradiction of this decision, but finally Morocco and Tunisia in 1956/57 were given their independence.
Algeria was supposed to be next, but there about a million of French there that were afraid of independent Algeria would pass laws to deprive them of their rather good working conditions which they were enjoying before.
Soon after that an open war between French and the Algerian broke out and finally after years of bloody fighting independence was approved by French government.
Kenya was another fighting colony. A rebellion against British was organized there. And was a drastic step back into the barbarism. But still a great effort can be seen that Africans made in order to get independence, even not able to cope with it. So, it became a sovereign republic.
3. Nigeria’s Hopes Failed
It was time when Nigeria was said to be the model of a self-governing nation in Africa. It is made of four separate regions that tend to be self-governing and also seems to have all types of resources to establish a good level of rich life. It became independent nation in 1960 and a republic three years later.
However problems almost immediately started and the process of development was slowed. The elections that took place almost divided the nation. People were not accustomed to self-government and democracy, and that all resulted in violence. Most people couldn’t read or write, so their participation in the elections was rather theoretical.
Nigeria was divided mainly into two parts. The Eastern region was made up of Ibos, members of the Christian church, rather well-educated. As result of their striving and education most of them gained jobs in central government.
There was also a Northern region, which was less progressive and was not very much educated. Later on Eastern region declared itself independent from the whole Nigeria. After some time, the struggle between two parts was partially stopped. But the rebellious spirit made negative impact on the development of the country. ( Lewin, 1990)
Nigeria today is very wealthy and prospering country, thanks to vast oil reserves. But still there is much to be done. Roads need to be rebuilt, but in general this leading African nation has a vital role to play in world affairs.
4. Congo- Troubled Land
It became obvious that getting independence in only the first thing in the chain of following problems for the people of Africa. And it is apparent that people that get the right to rule themselves, after many years of colonial state, need help.
Therefore, many economical and political changes were made that they can’t return to the tribal ways of living. Statements about democracy were not understandable to the most part of the population because of lack of education. They were familiar with law either. And also in order for Africa to prosper and develop in different spheres, people at first must learn how to use farm machines and industrial machinery.
After the power was restored to the Africans, and the apparent need for unity and struggle for their rights disappeared, tribal rivalries and old, almost forgotten jealousies came to the surface and distracted the main attention that should be paid to the development.
Congo became independent in 1960. Before getting independence it was a colony of Belgium. Congolese had many complaints at that time. Even though the ruling government provided them rather good working places, they were good only according to the regional standards. Most people had very low salaries, and the most businesses were owned by foreign investors. The school system was not well-thought also, as there were no higher education available and Belgium could not allow receiving foreign students.
All the ruling positions were taken by while owners and governors and that literally meant that blacks were without either voice or control in the government.
Eventually independence was proclaimed, as Belgium realized that the tempo of nationalism cannot be resisted. But the problem was with the fact that this process was so quickly managed that Congo was left in a vacuum in which its people, who were lacking education, skills, know-how and particular type of thinking, were not able to fill.
After the Belgium government left, several Congolese leaders tried to take control over the country in their hands. Patrice Lumumba was one of them, the first Premier of the Congo, was unsuccessful in putting down the violence that followed the events.
The new nation was divided and the United Nations sent military troops to restore unity and order there. In some way it was successful action, and after some time finally Congo was a nit unified even though shakily.
Government was very much inefficient and corrupted. However, signs of improvements were appearing from time to time. And at the time there was an opinion that the peace was the main concern, and only if it could be achieved, Congo might flourish and prosper. (Lewin, 1990)
On October 27, 1971, the Congo changed its name to the Republic of Zaire and there is only one hope that the change of the name would bring changes in economic and political spheres of life and guarantee their successful development.
5. Ghana vs. Rhodesia
Events in those two counties are rather important for investigating an idea about the reasons of the underdevelopment of Africa after getting its independence. Even more, they should be described and analyzed in contrast to each other.
Ghana is the name of an old and rich land, that it also very ancient. In its actions it was progressive. Schools and hospitals were constantly built there, that brought an opportunity of eradication of illiteracy and possible to more people to learn how to read and write. Ghana has a great university and comparatively big number of students in the college. And the democratic spirit, instead of autocratic, was everywhere.
In 1962 a new president was elected for life. In two years he was granted dictatorial powers. Those who were oppose him were immediately jailed. Dictatorship was established.
The example of Ghana is an excellent illustration of the country that began its independent life with hope. But later on, it became debt ridden instead of prosperous. Educated people from there could find only few opportunities. Its democratic beginnings turned into dictatorship.
In contrast, while independence of Ghana was given by Britain, Rhodesia itself did that and began struggle for its rights. The situation there was rather confusing. The political situation in the country was controlled by white population and the white governors refused to give black population right to vote. They made a decision to keep the black population forever out of government and consider them only second class citizens.
So, as Ghana was struggling to prove that blacks can rule well and wisely, Rhodesia was striving to prove that domination of the write culture in the only way for Africa to succeed.
Speaking about the other African countries it is important to mention that even though they got independence nearly at the same period of time, their interior processes of development were quite different. Let’s Coup D’Ivoire that get it independence from France in 1960. Until 1990, it was the model of political and economic stability, and after was a military coup with the consequences of economic breakout and civil war that divided the country into two parts.
Zimbabwe became independent only in 1980. Until that time there were numerous contradictions for non-racial elections that were finally held. Namibia is another country, which is rich for its mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, uranium and lead. It was under Portuguese and South Africa’s influence for many years which controlled production there. Fishing is another great business in the region.
6. Conclusion
In the conclusion, I would like to summarize that there is much to learn about in Africa. It is full of unfinished businesses, the problems related to the establishment of a new nation, to teaching people to write and read and basic tasks related to education, to gaining experience as to the self- regulation, and to establishing of a prosperous economy.
Usually the process of development and establishment takes much time. And that it is the price paid for inexperience and haste. Probably if Africans were more patient and allowed colonial powers given them greater training, they might be able to govern themselves more skillfully.
Also in all African nations the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged must be diminished. And as it was already said, everything takes time. “For some countries, a deep and continuous divide has remained unresolved. Sudan and Chad, for example, are divided between an Arab Muslim north and an African Christian south. Both countries have suffered destructive civil wars over the decades. In Uganda, the divide was very broadly between the Baganda of the south and Acholi northerners.”
In Southern part of the continent people were cutting ties with Britain and Portugal, but still keep the white minority rule in the country, excluding black population. And numerous fighting that were the result, were violent and destructive basically the structures of the conflicting countries. That lasted for many decades, and South Africans were the last ones among the others who gained that majority rule. By the way, the South and its political and economical life were greatly distorted by the conflict called Cold War between America and USSR.
It is apparent that receiving economic independence was much harder them political one. In some territories agricultural production was destroyed by droughts and famines, and in other economical development was stopped by interior wars. Attempts to create strong manufacturing basis mainly failed, and African currencies were very unstable and could not be easily converted to more widely spread ones.
All those negative trends in all the spheres of country’s life caused the intervention of western institutions. And also as result, many people migrated to other places in seek for better life, better conditions, stable political and economic situation and quality of life.
History shows that people of Africa are capable, imaginative, creative and hard-working. And they simply need time, help and support in working out their problems and government, economy and society that is equal to the possibilities of the vast continent that they occupy.
__________________________________________________________________________________
This is a small excerpt from dissertation on Africa topic. As free dissertation samples and dissertation proposal examples are plagiarized we recommend you not to use it in your own dissertation or thesis paper. Why not to get online dissertation writing help on Africa from professional dissertation writing company? Top-rated PhD academic writers will write a custom dissertation on any topic and discipline from scratch!
_________________________ Enjoy our Dissertation Writing Service! _________________________
0 comments:
Post a Comment