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> But would the Congolese have had electron microscopes but for Belgian colonialism? Probably yes. Europe and Central Africa were already connected and trading
by init 7y ago
> But would the Congolese have had electron microscopes but for Belgian colonialism?
Probably yes. Europe and Central Africa were already connected and trading since the 1400's[1]. The kingdom of Kongo sent an ambassador to Vatican in the 1600's[2]. Things would have played out differently if the slave trade in the Americas did not precipitate the downfall of many African kingdoms. The part of Congo where Ebola was discovered would probably not have been called Congo today.
Colonialism's goal was not to trade or bring technological advances but rather to accelerate the exploitation of the continent[3]. Belgian colonialism in particular was vicious at that.[4]
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogo_C%C3%A3o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogo_C%C3%A3o
[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuele_Ne_Vunda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuele_Ne_Vunda
[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Conference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Conference
[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrocities_in_the_Congo_Free_State https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrocities_in_the_Congo_Free_S...
- jayalpha 7y ago>> But would the Congolese have had electron microscopes but for Belgian colonialism? > Probably yes. Probably not, if you understand how "non integrating gap countries" work.
- danharaj 7y agoDo you want to explain?
- jayalpha 7y agoMost non-integrating gap countries have a very different background, values etc. None of them are very compatible with a modern industrial society. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentagon%27s_New_Map https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentagon%27s_New_Map In most of these countries, often but not always with tribal backgrounds, it is "grab what you can". Why is Africa corrupt? Why are they so far behind? Why don't they have good infrastructure, good education etc.? South Korea was poorer than Ghana in 1957. Why are they rich today? Trust me in one thing. The answers are unpleasant and especially unwelcome on Hackernews.
- WaxProlix 7y ago> Trust me in one thing. The answers are unpleasant and especially unwelcome on Hackernews. It's true, none of us like the role that we and our often similarly-privileged ancestors have played in the systemic rape and plunder of entire continents, or the massive wealth that we still enjoy today as a result. Good callout :)
- jayalpha 7y agoSo why did South Korea rise but Ghana did not? Ghana was richer in 1957 than South Korea.
- amerifat1 7y agoI can assure you there are those of that not only don't have the white guilt mentally damaged mental disease you claim everyone on the site shares with you, but I completely enjoy the fact that my ancestors were intelligent enough to actually think ahead enough to set up their later generations to be more successful and wealthier than them. I pity you and those that think this is somehow a bad thing. You seem so smug posting how awful this thing is, yet you enjoy all the privileges of that existence. You are posting this from most likely an air conditioned or heated room with running water, electricity, utilities, cheap food and fuel. Since you are obviously so much more woke than the rest of us, perhaps you should leave this evil world created by overly privileged white men. I suggest you move somewhere in the middle east or africa and you actually put your words, thoughts and actions to the test. What's that you say? You aren't going to do that? Then maybe you should stop whining about it online because clearly you aren't helping the situation in the slightest by putting your money where your mouth is (like all leftist evangelicals do).
- dang 7y agoWould you please stop creating accounts to break the site guidelines with? Doing so eventually gets your main account banned as well. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- 7y ago