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Changing the way we talk and think about Africa

24 points by JabavuAdams 9y ago

sgt 9y ago
I struggle to take an article seriously when Africa is referred to almost as a single country. There are similarities sure, but also vast differences in why these respective countries are poor. Also, one is neglecting complexity by stating it's all the West's fault. The West is arguably also largely responsible for the (albeit limited) prosperity in Africa.
- webnrrd2k 9y ago
  Is it a suprise that a short opinion piece doesn't explore the full depth of Africa's geopolitical situation? You are right that Africa is a big, diverse place, and it is easy to overgeneralize. Sometimes it's easy to undergeneralize, too. Technically-minded people, like the typical HN user, can sometimes over-focus on specifics. I certainly find myself doing that a lot. This article, by focusing on an overview and making broad statements, has to "simplify out" a lot of specifics. Also, I don't think that it's claiming that all of Africa's problems are all the West's fault. It's saying that if Africa, in general, wasn't blatently exploited then it could (eventually) take much better care of itself.
- owebmaster 9y ago
  Same thing can be said about Europe but rich.
rmah 9y ago
This article and the referenced "study" are breathtaking in its idiocy and ignorance. As long as people continue to believe such disturbingly counterproductive narratives, the poor areas of Africa will remain poor. That said, some of the fastest growing economies of the world are in Africa. And they didn't get that way by listening to people like this. There is a hope that more areas will follow their lead.
- tankenmate 9y ago
  I think the article is pointing out that a lot of money leaves Africa via, directly and indirectly, corruption and transfer pricing. Openly stating these facts isn't putting Africa down, it's highlighting a problem that needs to be fixed. OECD nations also suffer from these as well; corruption less so, but they also suffer from transfer pricing, this is why there is the push to reform taxation laws.
lr4444lr 9y ago
Nick Dearden is the director of UK campaigning organisation Global Justice Now. He was previously the director of Jubilee Debt Campaign. Maybe he can explain where the anonymous 200K came from?[0] [0]http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/pageuploads/gjn_org_accounts_31-12-15.pdf http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/pa...
DarkKomunalec 9y ago
He says 'we', but, reading the article, it's clear he's referring to a few multinational corporations. I am tired of at once having democracy subverted by them, and then be blamed for it.

24 points by JabavuAdams 9y ago

sgt 9y ago

I struggle to take an article seriously when Africa is referred to almost as a single country. There are similarities sure, but also vast differences in why these respective countries are poor. Also, one is neglecting complexity by stating it's all the West's fault. The West is arguably also largely responsible for the (albeit limited) prosperity in Africa.

webnrrd2k 9y ago
Is it a suprise that a short opinion piece doesn't explore the full depth of Africa's geopolitical situation? You are right that Africa is a big, diverse place, and it is easy to overgeneralize. Sometimes it's easy to undergeneralize, too. Technically-minded people, like the typical HN user, can sometimes over-focus on specifics. I certainly find myself doing that a lot. This article, by focusing on an overview and making broad statements, has to "simplify out" a lot of specifics. Also, I don't think that it's claiming that all of Africa's problems are all the West's fault. It's saying that if Africa, in general, wasn't blatently exploited then it could (eventually) take much better care of itself.
owebmaster 9y ago
Same thing can be said about Europe but rich.

rmah 9y ago

This article and the referenced "study" are breathtaking in its idiocy and ignorance. As long as people continue to believe such disturbingly counterproductive narratives, the poor areas of Africa will remain poor. That said, some of the fastest growing economies of the world are in Africa. And they didn't get that way by listening to people like this. There is a hope that more areas will follow their lead.

tankenmate 9y ago
I think the article is pointing out that a lot of money leaves Africa via, directly and indirectly, corruption and transfer pricing. Openly stating these facts isn't putting Africa down, it's highlighting a problem that needs to be fixed. OECD nations also suffer from these as well; corruption less so, but they also suffer from transfer pricing, this is why there is the push to reform taxation laws.

lr4444lr 9y ago

Nick Dearden is the director of UK campaigning organisation Global Justice Now. He was previously the director of Jubilee Debt Campaign. Maybe he can explain where the anonymous 200K came from?[0] [0]http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/pageuploads/gjn_org_accounts_31-12-15.pdf http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/pa...

DarkKomunalec 9y ago

He says 'we', but, reading the article, it's clear he's referring to a few multinational corporations. I am tired of at once having democracy subverted by them, and then be blamed for it.