NEO COLONIALISM IN AFRICA: A BANE ON REAL ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

 By Okofu Awele

NEO COLONIALISM IN AFRICA: A BANE ON REAL ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

     Africa with a population of about 1,341,257,785 peoples spread across 54 countries, is of unique cultures. It is the second-largest continent on Earth and speaks between 1500 to 2000 languages with about 3000 distinct ethnic groups of interesting history. These countries with their different cultures form an amazing continent. Africa also is endowed with numerous natural resources distributed across its various countries. 

During the 19th and 20th centuries, Africa faced European imperialist invasions, economic aggression, military hostilities, and then came Colonialism. Colonialism in Africa viewed from an aspect came as a result of the quest to stop the trade in slaves by the Europeans. They moved into nooks and crannies of African countries, as far as to remote villages which were sources of supply. These foreigners came across lucrative natural resources, this can be said to be one of the motivations that led the Europeans into Africa.  Also, as early as the 19th century Europe has already gone ahead of the world in technology (industrial revolution). They then needed raw materials for their industries and so they turned to Africa. Though it is believed that all they wanted at the onset was economic powers, but as time went on they realized that to control effectively, the economic might of an area they needed political powers as well. Therefore, colonialism in full began. Colonialism Is the largest robbery in the history of humankind (Rodney, 1973). They did not only impoverish Africa but also aided its underdevelopment.

As time went on, the educated few among the colonized states rose up and fought for freedom. After a long struggle, African states were able to rule themselves again.

     It is pertinent to note that the end of direct colonialism in Africa gave rise to another form of indirect exploitation by the colonial masters and developed countries. The English dictionary defines neo-colonialism as ' the control or domination by a  powerful country over a weaker one(especially former colonies) by the use of economic pressure, political suppression and cultural dominance'. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana averred that neo-colonialism represents imperialism in it's final and perhaps it's the most dangerous state. This is merely a new form of colonialism by the western countries, masked under the pretense of economic support for Africa; (Harold Nyikai in his work neo-colonialism in Africa: The economic crisis In Africa and propagation of the status quo by the world bank/Imf/Wto).  This new form of imperialism is as a result of the continued desire of the developed countries to increase their wealth, thereby making the developing countries their tools. They sort new ways to continue their old exploitation practices... Africa since it's emancipation from Colonialism has been used as a device by the rich states for economic boost as a result of our fully endowed natural resources and retarded mentality towards exploiting the resources. This has kept Africa wallowing in poverty, debt, hunger and underdevelopment. Living conditions are poor and unemployment ravaging its citizens. The carelessness, short-sightedness, and greediness of our leaders have kept us in the hands of foreign powers. Most African states achieved Independence politically but not economically, we still remain the masters slaves. We have indirectly sold our economies, tactically waived our sovereignty, and now at the mercy of Foreign Forces. These foreign countries are insensitively exploiting wealth from Africa under the pretense of providing help to sustain our economy. We have the resources but we Remain underdeveloped because we are quasi-independent. At first sight, the scheme would appear to have many advantages for the developing countries. Neocolonialism has made most of the third world countries too dependent on foreign capital, world commodity prices, technology, and military assistance to handle their own affairs (Stephanie Parenti, 2011).  But unless small states combine, they must be compelled to sell their primary product at prices dictated by the developed nations and buy their manufactured goods at prices fixed by them also. As long as neo-colonialism can prevent economic and political conditions for optimum development, the developing countries will be unable to create a large enough market to support industrialization. Certain institutions put in place to promote world economic stability have been used as instruments of indirect economic imperialism. 

 THE WORLD BANK/IMF 

      The world bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the government of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. It is the largest public development institution in the world and comprises of about 183 member countries. The board of governors are mostly developed countries with great financial contributions, which means they make the decisions. The American government holds 20% of the vote while the sub-Saharan countries hold just 7% of the votes within themselves. From the foregoing, it is evident that the board decisions are not likely to be in favor of the poorest members, especially in Africa. Also, the IMF's primary aim is to help stabilize exchange rates and provide loans to countries in need. The autonomy and sovereignty of these organizations have been tied to the world powers. The leaders of the less developed countries (LDC's) argues that LDC's are impoverished and the rich countries enriched by how the LDC's are integrated into the world system. The IMF and WB are the instruments of imperialism, as the creators of those institutions want to keep the new independent nations poor and in chains (Muthere, 2013). Loans given to developing countries are attached with huge interest rates with political undertones. But these loans ordinarily, are supposed to provide succor,  ease hardship, and improve the standard of living of the developing countries. 

In 2001, Sub Saharan Africa paid about 3.6 billion dollars more in debt service. Africa spends about four times more on debt service payments than it does on health care.   Over the decades, the structural adjustment programs were imposed on developing countries by the WB and IMF. The aims of the SAP were more than debt repayment but also dismantling of protectionism and other government policies which posed as a threat to their indirect exploitation. The policies of the international organization spur growth in global inequality.

      However, there are other ways of indirect imperialism;

  FOREIGN AID: Some developed countries exploit less developed countries under the pretense of giving financial supports, supply of arms and weapons, economic, social, or political live wires. Though this is a matter of international debate, I believe that the aids keep the less developed countries dependent. Some scholars view foreign aid as a tool of foreign influence. Taking Africa as a case study, its countries receive foreign aids in all aspects (politically, socially, and economically) but are still wallowing in astute poverty. Reports from the WB show that out of the 700million people who were pulled out of poverty between 1981 and 2010, about  627million of them were in China (a country that didn't receive foreign aid during the period under view). African countries that receive the highest foreign aid remain underdeveloped because these aids do not go without indirect repayments. Although, mismanagement and misappropriation of some of these loans and aids cannot be entirely ruled out. However, the importance and successes of foreign aid across the globe stand. Also, an aspect of foreign aid is how it is knotted to the multinational corporation (MNC's).

     MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS: These are organizations that own and controls the production of goods and services in at least one country other than it's home country. The primary aim is to make a profit and reach their financial goals. Many MNC's in Africa owned by the rich countries dominate local made products and as well do not render the expected quality services. These corporations acquire raw materials here in Africa at very cheap rates but sell their finished products at very high rates, thereby exploiting African citizens. Some of these corporations avoid taxes or rather ship their businesses somewhere the taxes are favorable to their corporation. Here the revenue meant to be paid to the host countries are denied. These corporations are in Africa exploiting both its resources and it's citizens and making huge profits for their home country, leaving the host countries impoverished. But these notwithstanding, the successes of MNC'S across borders have been recorded. 

     However, at this juncture, it is pertinent to note that the bad and corrupt leadership here in Africa has also been a major bane on development. African leaders are in every way struggling to impress the whites, therefore endangering their countries and the continent at large. The poor performances of African leaders have a part to play in its underdevelopment and foreign exploitation. 

     The yoke of underdevelopment in Africa caused by neo-colonial activities can be broken by having a strong central government, reducing export and import dependence, making foreign capital decisions, rapid economic growth and capital accumulation (Stephanie Parenting in Neo-colonialism construction and solutions, 2011).

 WRITTEN BY:

OKOFU AWELE

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