African Economics: The Tragic Epic Failure of Decolonization

African economics decolonization
Figure 1.--The photo was taken in Zambia during 1960s. We can assume that it was taken in an urban area. The family had some comforts. They lived in a brick house and had some furnishings and a true bed (traditionally Africans slept on the floor with mats). They had also had a modern looking radio set. Western style clothing hangs at the wall, also a tie. The boy is wearing a school uniform. We believe this was a posed image, symbolizing what most Africans saw as the prosperity that decolonization and independence would bring. Tragically for Africa, a very small part of the population experienced prosperity and improved lives with the departure of the Europeans. A reader writes, "I also think that the family is posing for the photo. If the intention of the photographer was to show an idealized image of economic progress after independence, it is interesting also that the footwear was not part of this image. The photo was collected by an Evangelical missionary society, but there is not an indication about the circumstances.

The European countries attempted to hold on to their colonies after World War II. The major exception was India which rapidly moved toward independence, especially when the Labour Party won a general election after VE Day (1945). After a series of costly guerilla wars (1940s-50s), Belgium, Britain, and France rapidly moved toward decolonization. All of the countries involved in Africa were unprepared. Here the Belgian Congo was a speciual case. These countries had poorly trained leaders, many of whom thought Soviet styled political and economic organization provided for rapid modernization and conveniently oermanent power. This lead to Africa becoming a new front in the Cold war. Few African leaders knew anything about economics and those that did had European educations which suggested that free market capitalism was a failed system and that the future laid with managed, socialist economies. Not one of the new African leaders was committed to free market capitalism. Many were impressed with the Soviet Union and its achievements through Socialism. Neither they are the Soviets for that matter understood at the time that Socialism was a route to ecinomuc disaster. Another appeal for corrupt African leaders that under Socialist systems that they could control much of the economy, providing enormous opportunities for graft and corruption as well as increased personal and political power. A range of other issues, including de-colonization, tribal issues, racism, national differences became mixed in with the economic debacle. The result was that the high hopes of independence were for the most part dashed. Africa experience economic failure on a collosal scale. Living standards in many African countries actually declined after independence. And the more Socialist the government, the greater the fall in living standards. And all this occurred despite massite amounts of foreign assistance from Europe and the United States. Only now with the beginning of democracy and free market reforms in some of the contries beginning to have some impact in improving living conditions. A British reader who has lived in Nigeria writes, "No more so than in Nigeria. It has a large, energetic population and enormous natural resources, but graft and economic mismanagement is endemic. The simple matter is if free market ecomics had been pursued, the population would have been made consumers and Nigeria would be a rich country today. Nigeria today has everyone with their hand in the till and a potentially rich people poor." Socialism and government planning has created enormous opprtunities for corruption that would not exist in a free market economy.

Attempts to Maintain Colonial Structures

The European countries attempted to hold on to their colonies after World War II. The major exception was India which rapidly moved toward independence, especially when the Labour Party won a general election after VE Day (1945). It is not ckear what would have happened had Labour not won the General election, bu Labour's decision to end the Raj, set in motion a process that undermined the legitimacy of the exising colonial edifices. It was still, however, wideky believed that colonies were necessary for the economic well being of the Euopean colonial powers. The European powrs in most cases were ot prepare to grant independence as was the case of India. And they resisted militarily, fighting a series of costly guerilla wars (1940s-50s).

Rapid De-colonization (1950s-60s)

Belgium, Britain, and France rapidly moved toward decolonization. In less than adecade, most of Africa was independent. The process began in Ghana (1956). They were shortly followed by one colony after another. African leasers puhed for immediate independence. And the colonia powers were unwilling to resist demands that might lead to disordrs. Nor were they willing to shoulder the massive costs tht would bevneededto prepare their colojie for independence. This might have been possible before Word War II as the nationlis ovements were still nascent, but after the War, the choices were rapid decolonization or havig to face violence and resistance. We have begun to develop pages on these independence experiences: Cameroon (1960). All of the African countries involved in decolonization were unprepared, but some more than others. Here the Belgian Congo was a speciual case and a recipie for disaster, the aftermath continues to this day. These countries had poorly trained leaders. Few understood th challenge they were taking on. Most thought that economic prosperity would quickly follow as aesulr of indepndence. Many were convinced that Soviet styled political and economic organization provided a sure proof blueprint for rapid modernization and conveniently permanent powerwithout pesky, inconvenient elections. This lead to Africa and the newly independent countriesbecoming a new front in the Cold war. The major European holdout was Portugl. This was a small European ciunty, but with very large African colonies (especially Angola and Mozambique). These would require lengthy wars of national liberation. The future of these countrues, however, would not be any more successful than the countries granted independence in a constitutional fashion.

Economic Theory

Few African leaders knew anything about economics and those that did had European educations which suggested that free market capitalism was a failed system and that the future laid with managed, socialist economies. Not one of the new African leaders was committed to free market capitalism. Many were impressed with the Soviet Union and its achievements through Socialism. Neither they are the Soviets for that matter understood at the time that Socialism was a route to ecinomuc disaster. Another appeal for corrupt African leaders that under Socialist systems that they could control much of the economy, providing enormous opportunities for graft and corruption as well as increased personal and political power. A range of other issues, including de-colonization, tribal issues, racism, national differences became mixed in with the economic debacle.

Economic and Social Failure

The result was that the high hopes of independence were for the most part dashed. Rather than a nww era of ecoomic development and prosperity, many africn economies ctually declind. Africa experienced economic failure on a collosal scale. It was already the poorest continent, but became poorer. Living standards in many African countries actually declined after independence. And the more Socialist the government, the greater the fall in living standards. Not only did the economies decline in many of the new nations, but we also have serious famines develop, much worse than during the African colonial era. Socialism and economic planning was not the only problem. Other issues include coruption (made worse as a result of socialist economics), civil war, tribal violence, authoritarian rule, and enironmental issues, factors were resoinsible. And all this occurred despite massite amounts of foreign assistance from Europe and the United States--the very countries that African socialists attempt to blame for their failures. Also the same countries that provided food aid to dabe millions of africans fron starving. A British reader who has lived in Nigeria writes, "No more so than in Nigeria. It has a large, energetic population and enormous natural resources, but graft and economic mismanagement is endemic. The simple matter is if free market ecomics had been pursued, the population would have been made consumers and Nigeria would be a rich country today. Nigeria today has everyone with their hand in the till and a potentially rich people poor." Socialism and government planning has created enormous opprtunities for corruption that would not exist in a free market economy.

Wars of National Liberation


Modern Shift

Only now with the beginning of democracy and free market reforms in some of the contries beginning to have some impact in improving living conditions. After decades of socilist dominance, Africa's newelites are begining to oberve the what capitalism and the free market can bring about, first with the asian Tigers and now with China. Socialist thought has not disappeared. Such as is its theological allure, that it still attracts millions. What it has not done is led to economic development and building succesful economies. It is still unclear how the debate between capitlism nd socilism will emerge.







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Created: 7:56 PM 11/14/2012
Last updated: 3:33 AM 12/31/2015