All in all, Gabon and Cameroon began as very similar countries in my mind but the stark differences allowed for a renewed perspective which included different economic, nationalistic, and political approaches. There is much more than economics for the two countries as for the citizens of each demonstrate the greater social implications of institutional decisions which carry a serious weight. My paper further helped me review certain themes of the course applicable to any LDC and further support the argument of the growth and development of a country not being a linear trend. Instead, by looking further into relative “stability” each country promoted, this paper supports that the complexity of development that is much more than the indicators
Today, the Congo is an undeveloped, poor, and corrupt country. The life expectancy is around 43 years due to the lack of protection and unhealthy living conditions. According to The World Bank, around 64 percent of the whole population is living in poverty. In fact, it is the seventh poorest country in the world, just below Madagascar, as well as being the third least developed country under Cape Verde (Nations Online). This is because “The Republic of the Congo still struggles with their economy due to its historical inability to form on its own” (Mckinley). After the Congo was finally able to gain independence from Belgium, they were unable to keep strong markets. This inevitably led to an increase of poverty. Additionally, a country’s GDP (gross domestic product) per capita can determine how well a country is doing economically. The GDP per capita is calculated by dividing total gross domestic product by the total population in the country. Today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has a GDP per capita of 484.21 USD. This is relatively low compared to other countries; for example, the United States of America’s GDP per capita is around 53,041.98 USD (World Bank). After Belgium granted the Congolese independence, years of being under Belgian control resulted in an inhibition to develop. The African country “were not yet ready for independence”(Scheyven). Their monarchy was inexperienced, which caused an
The economy was projected to grow at 8.5% from 2011 to 2015. However, the economy only grew at a rate of 2.5% (Kreckel). The inability to reach the projected growth contributes to the nation’s poverty. This is because in the colonial era, no money was made or spent by the people, impacting the nation today. Additionally, the Republic of Congo has the lowest household average salary in the world of $270 per month (“DR Congo”). Again, the low salary can be blamed on King Leopold as he took all the wealth for himself and gave none to the people. Although trade was good under Leopold’s rule, as an independent nation it has dramatically decreased. In 2015, the Republic of Congo made $5.2 million in exports (“The World FactBook”). In the time of imperialism, Leopold made $100 million in exports; which in today’s dollars would be equivalent to 2.9 billion dollars (Kreckel). Today, the Republic of Congo’s economy is struggling. 87% of woman are living off of $1.45 a day (“The World Factbook”). From the time of colonialism to now, the daily amount that people can spend has only increased from $.25 to $1.45. Within 109 years, the Congo has still been unable to make a drastic change in their society. Due to King Leopold’s actions, the people had nothing under his control and still have little
Starting from the European colonization period, Congo has constantly been plagued with foreign interference, namely by external countries and multinational corporations looking to gain wealth. They have demolished the “magnificent African cake” systematically throughout the years, starting primarily from Leopold’s Congo Free state, which he ruled single handedly, to the modern day Democratic Republic of Congo. Leopold began his regime by holding conferences regarding Africa, and formed organizations that he claimed would aid Africa. Not only did Leopold abuse the abundance of natural resources out of greed, he also destroyed the economy, political system, and the people for generations to come. Leopold’s framework of a Congo whose resources and people are exploited for the leaders self-gain would carry on through the years to the modern day.
The Tuareg of Niger and Mali show an interesting difference in how their community influences their aging experience. In the Tuareg, the opposite spectrums of life are treated in ways that are different than the individuals in the middle of their life (Rasmussen, 2012: 131). In this way, the older individuals and the youngest individuals create their own kind of community. Elderly individuals in this society have their own aspect of life that they are supposed to observe. “There are also hints that Tuareg frail elders occupy special, respected status as pre-ancestral, as mediators between humans and ancestors,” (Rasmussen, 2012: 135). In this society, only the oldest and youngest can interact as both spectrums of the life span are seen as being
Cameroon, a relatively economically stable country in central Africa, has often been often discounted when searching to invest in Africa. Despite the rich opportunity for manufacturing and new markets, Cameroon lacks infrastructure and is often overlooked in favor of its neighbor Nigeria. Cameroon exists as a promising enterprise for foreign investment with a bit of time and assistance. Cameroon sits on the border of Nigeria, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Gabon, and Guinea while still having access to the Gulf of Guinea. According to the CIA’s World Factbook, Cameroon’ terrain is very diverse which is favorable for agriculture, and has some volcanic activity. The CIA also states that Cameroon has a large variety of ethnic groups; the largest being Cameroon Highlands, followed by Bantu, Kirdi, Fulani, Nigritic and others. This ethnic diversity
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the eleventh largest country in the world and has over $29 trillion in unexploited minerals and natural resources (News about Congo). Given this fact, how is it that the DRC ranks 172 in economic freedom? The simple answer is the country is afflicted with inadequate security, shoddy governance, and a long-lasting humanitarian crisis. It is imperative that the United States (U.S.) understands the framework surrounding the operational environment, strategic implications, and how they can use its instruments of national power as a strategy to affect the DRC. Social redistribution is a method that will assist in achieving U.S. strategic goals due to the ineptness and limited capacity
Congo had an abundance of natural resources than Ethiopia. Congo after World War I. had Large plantations (growing cotton, oil palms, coffee, cacao, and rubber) and livestock farms were developed. The colony became a vital source of uranium for the United States during World War II. This made its foreign colonizer (Belgium) more direct in establishing their control of the land. On the other hand, Ethiopia had little to offer regarding the natural resource. With its rugged train, it was difficult for the Italians to control it. Also, the Ethiopians familiarity with their terrain made them defeat the Italians. Ethiopia had successfully defended its independence and cast doubt upon an unshakable certainty of the age—that sooner or later all Africans
Economic growth, put simply, is “an increase in the amount of goods and services produced per head of the population over a period of time”; development is inextricably linked with this economic growth. By utilising theories of economic growth and development we can see how the Chinese and Sub-Saharan African economies have emerged, but, more notably, we can use these to look at patterns from past and present to show their experience and the implications of this growth for the future.
the statistic illustrates data on water consumption in Brazil and Congo in 2000. While, the diagram compares the amount of global water used for three categories: agriculture, industries, and homes from 1900 to 2000.
As their trip in the Congo begins, Ruth May mentions: “What they do is, they all stare at us” (Kingsolver 52); this is pertinent to the story as it not only precludes the uneasiness that the natives feel after having religion forced upon them, but also furthers the separation of the family that happens due to the events in the Congo. The Reverend begins to really delve into the spirit of his mission by preaching to anyone who will listen -- which is not very many. Nathan, however, makes a grave mistake consistently pronounces words wrong during his sermons: “It is a special kind of person who will...stand...before them...and say words wrong, week after week” (Kingsolver 213). This leads to an uneasiness with the natives, as the words he often
The groups that fall along the Chad/ Cameroon pipeline worked at levels of normal economy to the degree that livelihoods around these groups to a great extent relied on upon the woodland for a wide mixed bag of woods items. These chasing and angling groups relied on upon the woodland for kindling, building materials, honey, restorative plants and bramble meat. All household fuel wood was gathered from the timberland, the most supported species being Carapa, Grandiflora and Nuxia Congesta. Many building materials including shafts, bamboo and filaments were reaped from the woods. They additionally depended on angling extractions for supportability (Pegg, 2005). The backwoods and the water locales likewise held extraordinary social essentialness to the individuals who every once in a while performed customary ceremonies around some of these common destinations to conciliate their progenitors and dodge regular catastrophes. Horticulture around the Pygmy and Bantu Communities along the pipeline was truly not standardized but rather the propensity to depend on the indigenous habitat was high (Agrawal, 2003).
Through this series of papers, I wish to contrast Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. Over the past ten years each state has changed its fragile state index score, but in very opposite
A Chinese proverb accredited to Confucius says that to define the future, you need to study the past. Indeed, studying and understanding the past is paramount to understand the current situation of SVGB crimes in the CAR. Therefore, the following Chapter will focus on a brief analysis of the history of the CAR, highlighted its political instability.
The Republic of Congo’s government will continue to weaken and will not be able to work successfully. To strengthen the economy you must first have balance in the political development and democracy, which in fact is organized by policies modeled by The World Bank (International Monetary Fund 6).
At the moment, there is a lot of hope for the economic development of Africa and its government, its potential for western policy and globalization to promote growth on the continent. Globalization is the rise of political, cultural, and economical ties across international boundaries that way significantly on African countries, especially through the building of nonactive phases among its nations, by bringing down barriers in the areas of business and culture. Globalization has become one of the growing discussions and concerns in economic groups since the mid-1990s, and continues to grow.