HIGHER GRADE MODERN STUDIES

The

Social, Economic and Political Factors

Affecting African Development

‘Developing World’ is a term used to describe countries where people have low standards of living because poverty and hunger are widespread and where civil unrest and war frequently occur.

Many developing world countries suffer from hunger and malnutrition - although not all people in developing countries are poor.

Where is the Developing World?

Many developing countries lie South of the Equator.

Africa is a continent with major problems which have impacted on its progress

Developing Countries

EQUATOR

•Although not every African country will have all of the features outlined below, many will have some of them………………..

Low average income per head

Many work on the land

Unemployment is high

Medical care is poor

Large debt burden

Growing population, esp. among under 15s

Poor roads and communications

Education poor by Western standards

Civil war or war with neighbouring countries common

SOCIAL FACTORS

ECONOMIC FACTORS

POLITICAL FACTORS

The ability of countries in

Africa to progress is

hampered by various factors namely:

Effects of DebtEffects of Debt Effects of Cash Crops and Terms

of Trade

Effects of Cash Crops and Terms

of Trade

Land TenureLand Tenure

• Africa faces demands of $14.5 billion in debt repayments every year.

• Much of this has been borrowed from IMF or World Bank

•They often attach ‘conditions’ (SAPs) when lending money – this can lead to hardship for countries involved.

Now worldwide campaign to cancel debt of poor countries.

UK has cancelled 100% of debt owed to it.

In 2005 the three main lenders, the IMF and the African Development fund, agreed to relieve the debts of 30 African Countries

• A condition of getting money from the World Bank or IMF is often the requirement to grow cash crops

• Idea is that country can use money to generate income

• But can lead to overproduction and collapse of prices

• ‘Free markets’ culture favours developed countries

• 60% of African land still in hands of subsistence farmers- 8 out of 10 are women who do not own the land they farm. Also not educated in farming methods.

• Because land held in man’s name, little incentive to improve it. People need security of tenure to encourage time and investment in land.

How Debt Can Cripple A Country

ZAMBIA

Zambia was once one of Africa’s richest countries. Now it is poorer than it was in 1975!

In the early 2000s it had one of the lowest life expectancy rates in the world at 33 years.

In 2004, Zambia spent 7.35% of its GDP to repay its debt – twice what it spent on education. To meet its debts, Zambia has had to privatise its public services and take in foreign imports. Because of this, Zambia could not address its health, educational and economic needs…….. in 2005, the G8 summit cancelled $4bn of debt. This has enabled the Zambian Government to introduce free healthcare and to invest in education

Effects of War / Civil WarEffects of War / Civil War Effects of Bad Governance Effects of Bad Governance

KleptocraciesKleptocracies

• Armed conflicts now a leading cause of hunger

• Wars destroy economic and social development

•They destroy communications

• Genocide and killings can reduce workforces drastically

• Land can be rendered useless for generations (eg. mines)

‘A key difficulty for Africa in the past forty years has been the weakness of governance’ (Commission for Africa Report)

What is meant by ‘Bad Governance’?

‘A key difficulty for Africa in the past forty years has been the weakness of governance’ (Commission for Africa Report)

What is meant by ‘Bad Governance’?

• Police cannot be trusted

• Human rights abused

• Taxes not efficiently collected

• Key services not delivered

• Poor legal system

• Widespread corruption

• Many dictatorships

• Kleptocracy linked to bad governance

• A Kleptocracy is where a dictator or elite group exercise their power to the benefit of themselves at the expense of the population at large.

• Corruption is ignored because keeps powerful people (eg. military elite) content since their wellbeing is linked to that of those in power.

Huge losses of civilian life – destruction of villages and whole societies

Emergency aid disrupted by conflict (eg. Sudan)

Governments block food supplies to starve enemies

Displacement of people (refugees)

Affects women and children – traumatised by conflict – cannot return to normal lives

Essential money for health, education diverted to war effort – disease/illness increase

Food becomes a weapon ‘scorched earth’ policies – livestock killed, wells poisoned

How Corruption and Mismanagement Can Affect a Country

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe was once the economic leader in Africa but poor management by government has caused economic disaster

The dictatorial president, Robert Mugabe introduced a land distribution policy which drove many white farmers off the land, crippling commercial farming & food production.

Vote-rigging and terrorisation by thugs have crushed much political opposition. Opponents denied food aid. Journalists banned from country.

The country has major economic problems caused by government. IMF suspended financial aid because country cannot meet financial goals.

Health Issues Education Issues

Land Tenure & Women

Poor Farming

• Massive AIDS epidemic in Africa – 25.4m living with HIV

• Many countries have lost 20-30 years of life expectancy

• Brings major problems to economy & health systems – people too ill to work.

In Botswana, almost 40% of country has HIV

• Deforestation, overgrazing and overcropping are exhausting the land

• Poor irrigation

• Leads to desertification

• Affects lifestyles

• Low literacy levels

• Low enrollment levels, even in primary schools

• Debt owed by many countries means free education has ended for many

• Skilled jobs for bulk of people just a ‘dream’

• Many African Women denied right to own land

• But women play a key role in farming!

• Excluded from agricultural training but do most farming!

The Impact of Aids on an African CountryThe Impact of Aids on an African Country

Population of Botswana approx. 1,650,000

Est. % living with AIDS 37% of population

Est. no. HIV/AIDS deaths 33,000

Women as % of adults with HIV/AIDs 58%

Women aged 15-24 with HIV/AIDs 30 – 45% (est.)

Men aged 15-24 with HIV/AIDS 13 – 19% (est.)

Number of AIDs orphans 120,000 (est.)

BOTSWANA

AIDs and Botswana – Facts and AIDs and Botswana – Facts and Figures (2003)Figures (2003)

How AIDS Affects Development.How AIDS Affects Development.

Aids impacts severely on the economic and social fabric of countries. It also

strikes people in the most productive age groups and is

invariably 100% fatal

•Health - Direct costs of AIDs include expenses for drugs, medical care, funeral expenses.

•Indirect costs include lost time due to illness, recruitment/training costs to replace workers etc.

•Pressure on hospitals – cannot cope

•Economy - Young adults lost in most productive years. Affects overall economic output.

•Agricultural output slumps as workers die and young children not capable of taking their place.

•Education- children do not go to school as they are needed as carers at home or to work in the fields. Teachers die of AIDs – not replaced.

•Social – developing infrastructures (eg. roads) means many male workers spend time away from families – engage in casual sex – spread AIDs