Africa

1. Today’s Issues: Africa European colonialism of the 1800s has left most of today’s independent African nations with economic, health, educational, and political problems.

2. Today’s Issues: Africa SECTION 1 Economic Development Health Care SECTION 2 Case Study Effects of Colonialism

3. Section-1 Economic Development • Africa’s history of colonization has had long-term effects on its economy. • Barriers to African economic development include illiteracy, foreign debt, and a lack of manufacturing industries.

4. Section-1 Economic Development Africa’s Economy Today A History of Problems • Most countries do little manufacturing • − sell raw materials to industrialized countries • European colonizers exploited Africa’s resources, people • − millions sold into slavery or died from harsh working conditions • Land was mined, drilled; environment was ignored • All this has limited Africa’s economic growth, political stability Continued…

5. Africa’s Economy Today {continued} Africa’s Economic Status • Most African countries are worse off today than in 1960 • − average incomes have decreased • − worldwide: accounts for 1% of total GNP, 1.5% of exports • Lack crucial infrastructure (roads, airports, railroads, ports) • Little access to computers or high technology

6. On the Road to Development Reducing Debt and Increasing Cooperation • Newly independent countries borrowed money to build economies • − total debt of sub-Saharan governments was $227 billion by 1997 • − many Western leaders push to forgive Africa’s debts • Trying to improve economies through regional cooperation • − Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) • − Southern African Development Community (SADC) • − groups promote trade, improvement of infrastructure Continued…

7. On the Road to Development {continued} Building Industries • “One-commodity” countries rely on export of one or two commodities • − commodity—agricultural or mining product that can be sold • − value varies daily based on worldwide supply and demand • − this makes “one-commodity” nations’ economies unstable • Economists want Africans to diversify—create variety in economies • − promote manufacturing to achieve economic growth and stability • East Africa’s Djibouti established shipping center on Gulf of Aden

8. Educating Workers Improving Education • Uneducated populace is a large barrier to economic development • Average schooling time for women up only 1.2 years in last 40 years • In Angola and Somalia, civil wars have destroyed school systems • But in Algeria, 94% get a formal education • − 83% of Mauritians over 15 are literate Reversing the Brain Drain • Many professionals migrate to Western nations • − International Organization for Migration urges return

9. Section-2 Health Care • Epidemic diseases are killing Africa’s people in huge numbers. • African nations and countries around the world are using a variety of methods, including education, to eradicate disease.

10. Section-2 Health Care Disease and Despair Serious Diseases • Cholera—sometimes fatal infection • − spread by poor sanitation, lack of clean water • Malaria—often-fatal infectious disease marked by chills, fever • − carried by mosquitoes; resistant to drugs due to overuse • Acquired immunedeficiencysyndrome(AIDS)—caused by HIV virus • − 70% of adult, 80% of child AIDS cases are in Africa • − often paired with tuberculosis—infectious respiratory infection

11. AIDS Stalks the Continent Africa Bears the Brunt • 3 million died from AIDS worldwide in 2000 • − 2.4 million lived in sub-Saharan Africa • In Swaziland, 3 of 4 deaths were from AIDS • − life expectancy has fallen from 58 years to 39 • In 2000, 26 million people in Africa had HIV or AIDS Continued…

12. AIDS Stalks the Continent {continued} A High Price to Pay • Widespread disease has economic consequences • − sick people work less or not at all, earn less, slip into poverty • AIDS is lowering South Africa’s GDP • − by 2010, it could be 17% lower compared to without AIDS • Medical care for AIDS patients is expensive • − UNAIDS estimates $4.63 billion needed to fight AIDS in Africa • − UNAIDS—United Nations program studying AIDS epidemic

13. Nations Respond A Variety of Answers • Since 1930s, spraying programs used to reduce insect numbers • − fight malaria, other insect-borne diseases • In 2000, the Global Fund for Children’s Vaccines pledged money • − $250 million over next 5 years for worldwide immunizations • Gabon using oil revenues to upgrade its health care system • African Development Fund loaned Mozambique $12.3 million dollars • − money to be used to upgrade public health facilities Continued…

14. Nations Respond {continued} Strategies Against AIDS • South Africa, Brazil work together on AIDS prevention, care • − Brazil has public health policies to fight AIDS, other diseases • − Brazil’s policies are considered a model for developing nations Continued…

15. Nations Respond {continued} Success Stories • Uganda and Senegal have reduced spread of HIV • − in 1997, Uganda offers same-day HIV tests, education programs • − infection rates among 15 to 24 year olds have dropped 50% • Senegal controls spread of AIDS with intensive education program • − infection rates have been below 2% since mid- 1980s • UNAIDS says HIV infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa are down • − 1999–2000: dropped by 200,000 cases, but figure may be misleading

16. Case Study Effects of Colonialism How can African nations bring peace and stability to their people? BACKGROUND • Early 19th century Africa was home to great empires, rich cultures • By the end of the 19th century—poverty and violence • Many of Africa’s problems stem from European colonialism

17. Case Study Effects of Colonialism Colonizing Africa Europeans in Africa • Portuguese establish coastal trading stations in the 1400s • By mid-1800s, Europeans seek Africa’s rich natural resources • − need raw materials for industrial economies, markets to sell goods • Berlin Conference (1884-85) sets rules for dividing up Africa Continued…

18. Case Study Nations Respond {continued} Europeans in Africa • European control begins to fade in 20th century • − most countries gain independence in 1960s • Long-term damage to cultural and ethnic boundaries, economy

19. Case Study Challenges of Independence Colonial Transition • Departing Europeans did not leave Africa with stable governments • − newly established nations suffered dictators and civil wars • Europeans did not understand Africa’s ethnic diversity • − drew country boundaries combining historical enemies Continued…

20. Case Study Challenges of Independence {continued} Colonial Transition • Germany and Belgium aggravated historically tense ethnic relations • − Rwanda, Burundi include Hutu, Tutsi groups; war erupts in 1990s • − this ethnic conflict took the lives of hundreds of thousands Continued…

21. Case Study Challenges of Independence {continued} Colonial Transition • Colonial boundaries create problems for many African governments • − difficult to get different ethnic groups to cooperate • Dictators like Mobutu Sese Seko became common • − Mobutu ruled what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo • Many Africans have no experience living in democratic governments Continued…

22. Case Study Challenges of Independence {continued} Cause for Hope • Primary goal is to establish democratic traditions • − political stability needed for peace and prosperity • Some progress is being made, for example in South Africa • − white minority government yielded power to black majority in 1994 • − ended decades of government-sanctioned racial discrimination Continued…

23. Case Study Challenges of Independence {continued} Cause for Hope • In 2001, Ghana peacefully elected a new president • − a change from the coups, assassinations of previous governments