Why South Africa might actually avoid the fate of African countries
Several African countries used to be European colonies, that is, they went through a period of colonialism. The former colonialists are widely criticised - it is said that they plundered the countries and gave back little in return. While there maybe some truth in this, the same criticism have been leveled against South Africa for the way it managed Namibia before Namibian independence while this was not really the case. South Africa did a LOT to develop Namibia, development of which the benefits are still reaped today.
But that is not what I am on about. What I am saying is that many countries went through a colonialist period, including South Africa - colonised by Brittain. In many of these countries, the colonalists left overnight, leaving some or other military dictator in charge or at least leaving the door open to him. The after effects of Colonialism actually caused a lot of damage.
However, South Africa had a more gradual changeover. on 31 May 1910 it became the Union of South Africa, and on the same day in 1961 it became a republic. After that it went through several years of Apartheid - which was the wrong solution to a real problem, even if the problem was only in the minds of a few people. Even though apartheid was wrong, it did form a buffer between the preceding colonialist regime and the present day.
In a way it can be said that the apartheid struggle made us all a lot more mature, and we deal with problems differently. Apartheid also allowed the government of the time to put infrastructure in place - infrastructure that we still benefit from today. Infrastructure that many other African countries never had a chance to develop.
For this reason, perhaps, just maybe, we will not suffer the same fate as Zimbabwe and so many other African countries where civil war and famine are at the order of the day.
I do of course have to point out that my opinion may be heavily influenced by my western background. That I can unfortunately not change.
Lets hope that over time we will learn to understand each other better, be glad for the good things we got from history, and that we can finally bury the bad parts of history.
But that is not what I am on about. What I am saying is that many countries went through a colonialist period, including South Africa - colonised by Brittain. In many of these countries, the colonalists left overnight, leaving some or other military dictator in charge or at least leaving the door open to him. The after effects of Colonialism actually caused a lot of damage.
However, South Africa had a more gradual changeover. on 31 May 1910 it became the Union of South Africa, and on the same day in 1961 it became a republic. After that it went through several years of Apartheid - which was the wrong solution to a real problem, even if the problem was only in the minds of a few people. Even though apartheid was wrong, it did form a buffer between the preceding colonialist regime and the present day.
In a way it can be said that the apartheid struggle made us all a lot more mature, and we deal with problems differently. Apartheid also allowed the government of the time to put infrastructure in place - infrastructure that we still benefit from today. Infrastructure that many other African countries never had a chance to develop.
For this reason, perhaps, just maybe, we will not suffer the same fate as Zimbabwe and so many other African countries where civil war and famine are at the order of the day.
I do of course have to point out that my opinion may be heavily influenced by my western background. That I can unfortunately not change.
Lets hope that over time we will learn to understand each other better, be glad for the good things we got from history, and that we can finally bury the bad parts of history.
posted by ispburger at 11:42 pm
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