Figure 1.--Modern African history has for the most part not been a happy time. The high hopes of independence were rarely realized. Most authors focus on imperialism and European colonial rule as the cause of Africa's problems. Much less discussed is the fact that independence came to African countries at a time that socialist economic policies were widely accepted. Few African political leaders and intelectuals appreciated the power of capitalism and free markets. Rthiopia of course had only a bruef period of Italian colonial rule. Ethipia's problems were coupled with a Revolution that used totalitarian models (1974). The result in Ethiopis was not just economic failure as in other African countries, but also terrible famine. Ironically, Ethiopians were fed by the capitalist countries like America whose political and economic liberty their leaders rejected. This refugee boy was photographed by Barry L. Thumma, probably during the 1980s. The caption read. This Ethiopian youngster waits in line for a daily feedin at a refugee vcamp near the Ethiopian border in Sudan Africa. He wears an identification bracelet much like those worn in a hospital to keep track of his condition. The marks on his face are representative of certain tribes in Africa." The Revolutionary Ethiopian regime received guns ans military support from the Socialist countries, but little food to feed the population abd the policies of the Revolutionary Government as in other Socialist countries actually reduced food production. |
