Week 6

Modernization School

A theory suggesting societies transition from 'traditional' to 'modern' through industrialization and rational bureaucracy.

Focus of Modernization School

Emphasis on economic development and social transformation, favoring individual mobility over communal identities.

Pro of Modernization School

Encourages building rational government institutions and some mass participation in governance.

Con of Modernization School

Overlooks agriculture reliance, underestimates external factors, and equates Western standards with 'modernity'.

Dependency/Underdevelopment School

Theory asserting Africa’s underdevelopment is largely due to external economic exploitation.

Emerged From

Dependency School evolved from critiques in Latin America and was applied to Africa.

Wallerstein's Concept

Immanuel Wallerstein's 'world-systems' theory describes a global system keeping Africa in a peripheral role.

Pro of Dependency School

Establishes local political developments within a global context, highlighting historical exploitation.

Con of Dependency School

Oversimplifies Africa’s dynamics by treating it uniformly as 'exploited', underestimating internal factors.

Statist School

Suggests the state is the primary driver of social, economic, and political events in Africa.

Focus of Statist School

Analyzes how leaders use state power to maintain control over resources and politics.

Pro of Statist School

Highlights the influential role of leaders in shaping policies and distributing resources.

Con of Statist School

Ignores the role of non-state actors and may oversimplify African politics under 'big man rule'.

Political Interaction Perspective

Focuses on the state-society relationship, emphasizing the interaction of various social forces.

Politics as an Outcome

Politics result from the intersection of demographics, culture, economics, and external environments.

Pros of Political Interaction Perspective

Holistic view that traces ongoing processes rather than attributing causality to a single factor.

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Largest migration forcing people from Africa to the Americas from about 1400 to 1900.

Contemporary Effects of Slave Trade

Led to ethnic fragmentation and weaker political institutions in heavily raided areas.

Colonization's Impact on Africa

Extractive colonial economies prioritized raw material exports over local economic self-sufficiency.

Example of Extractive Economy

The Baro-Kano line built for exporting tin to Britain rather than developing local economies.

Reorganized Trade Definition

African societies were forced to import manufactured goods while exporting low-value raw materials.

Resource Curse

Economic phenomenon where countries rich in natural resources fail to achieve expected economic growth.

Resource Dependence

Over 83% of African countries depend on a few primary commodities for export revenue.

Policy Myopia

Short-term revenue from commodities undermines long-term diversification efforts.

Conflict over Resources

Lootable resources can fuel civil wars, demonstrating a lack of citizen engagement in development.

Informal Sector Definition

Economic activities that are unrecorded and untaxed, often a significant source of employment.

Slow Per-Capita Growth

African GDP per capita displayed minimal growth from 1960 to 2010, showing low economic performance.

Struggling Social Sectors

High mortality rates and low health spending characterize Africa's performance in health and education.

Reasons for Underperformance

Lack of industrialization and reliance on small-scale, low-mechanization agriculture.

Aid Dependency in Africa

Foreign aid contributes significantly to GDP but often does not translate into sustainable development.

Key Factors in Africa's Growth

Economic and political decline since the mid-1970s, marked by decreased per capita GDP.

External Factors Affecting Africa

Global commodity price swings and interventions by international organizations like the IMF.

Domestic Climate Obstacles

Adverse conditions such as disease burdens and low life expectancy hinder productivity.

Ethnic Diversity's Challenge

Diverse populations complicate policy-making and can fuel conflict within undemocratic systems.

Colonial Heritage Consequence

Artificial national borders restrict economic integration and collaboration among African countries.

Policy Failures

Statist, inward-looking policies adopted in the late 1970s limited exports and growth opportunities.

Transport Barriers for Trade

High transport costs and trade barriers impact African countries' export capabilities.

Debt Accumulation Issues

Unsustainable debt levels from borrowing during the 1980s and 90s affected economic stability.

Examples of Policy vs. Destiny

Governance can mitigate natural or geographical disadvantages, as seen in successful countries.