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We can blame France (and others) for colonialism, and for the unnatural borders that African nations have, but remember, the actual existence of African nations
by ptaipale 12y ago
We can blame France (and others) for colonialism, and for the unnatural borders that African nations have, but remember, the actual existence of African nations is still due to the people there wanting to have nations of their own. In Africa, this process largely happened during 1950-1970.
No one "forced" the concept of nations upon Africans, except by setting an example for what nation states can achieve. The time of colonialism was largely the opposite of having nations. It was the nations that overthrew colonialists.
- guard-of-terra 12y agoThey haven't got the choice of borders. They could only use colonial borders, and those were counterproductive for a healthy nation. Sure they wanted nation states, but they got crappy ones. And it could not go much better. Their failure is rooted in past outside their political control.
- ptaipale 12y agoBorders of nations can be changed by mutual agreement. Unfortunately the national leaders of African nations have been willing to keep these arbitrary borders, and much of the time only the other way is applied, i.e. war. War is also how the European national borders have been decided. In the U.S., the state borders are remarkably similar to African borders: straight lines along a particular meridian or circle of latitude. So is the Canadian border.