African Step Towards Development Challenges of Newly Independent African Nations

Challenges to building governments Building national unity Loyalty was with family, village, and ethnic group rather than distant government Tribalism – regionalism Artificial boundaries splintered large ethnic groups Tension between “tradition” and “modernity” Economic differences Conflict Radical Islam – John Green Boko Haram Video – 7:00 Debt Corruption – to hold power

Problems in Building Governments Civil War 1. Economic divisions and ethnic conflict has led to civil war in many areas of Africa. 2. Many ethnic groups have tried to secede or break away from countries. 3. In 1994, ethnic tensions between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda resulted in the massacre of 800,000 people. 4. Civil Wars have also broke out in countries like Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, and Liberia in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Rwandan Genocide Video background 3:14 Vid Video 3:18 From April to July 1994, Members of the Hutu ethnic majority in the east-central African nation of Rwanda murdered as many as 800,000 people, mostly of the Tutsi minority. Begun by extreme Hutu nationalists in the capital of Kigali, the genocide spread throughout the country with staggering speed and brutality, as ordinary citizens were incited by local officials and the Hutu Power government to take up arms against their neighbors. By the time the Tutsi-led Rwandese Patriotic Front gained control of the country through a military offensive in early July, hundreds of thousands of Rwandans were dead and many more displaced from their homes. The RPF victory created 2 million more refugees (mainly Hutus) from Rwanda, exacerbating what had already become a full-blown humanitarian crisis.

Parliamentary System system of government Parliamentary Republics where in the ministers of the executive branch are drawn from the legislature the executive and legislative branches are intertwined the party (or a coalition of parties) with the greatest representation in the parliament (legislature) forms the government its leader becoming prime minister Political parties hold power to appoint Prime Minister Prime minister may be removed from power whenever he loses the confidence of a majority of the ruling party or of the parliament Parliamentary Republics Should be democratic

purpose of one-party rule Build national unity one-party system could achieve democracy = reflected African tradition of consensus Other parties limited Supported by Julius Nyerere Dominant Party Rule

military rule Government controlled by the military Used to restore order Get rid of corrupt leaders Short term results Creates personal rule General Joseph Mobutu

autocratic rule Rule with absolute authority Seen as necessary because of general weaknesses = many African nations Robert Mugabe – video 5:10

Democratization 1980’s – Goal of many African Nations Movement towards a free system of government Article – “Why Western-style Democracy is not suitable for Africa”

Government stability= progress

Establishing Economic Systems

Key issue and goal How much government control over the economy Economic self reliance

Socialism State control to best meets need of people Way to end privilege/rejected colonialism Reflected African Traditions Government owns and operate major businesses and controls other parts of the economy Few successes

mixed economies Most African nations today Promote private ownership Build factories and produce good for their own use Multinational companies

Economic Choices and Challenges

Structural Legacies --Economies based on raw material exports --Aid/dependency --Migrant labor/labor compounds Cultural Legacies --Public Health --Education --Tension between “tradition” and “modernity”

Challenges to developing agriculture Focus on cash crops for export – not food crops Artificially low food prices by governments so people can afford food Population growth Drought

economic dependence and trade Try to diversify: agriculture and industry Reduce dependence and limit expensive imports (oil) Influenced by external factors especially world Market prices for products Debt, drought, conflict

Controlling Population cause of population explosion Tradition and health care Strains on government Need for school, jobs, housing, healthcare, family planning