The Need for Development in the African Continent

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Why Is There a Need for Development In Africa?
Since the dawn of the colonial era, the African continent has experienced numerous hardships on the pathway to economic and human development. High levels of poverty, disease, and inequality coupled with low levels of human development, education, and infrastructure has long gripped the continent and has stifled growth efforts (Gorton). An example of this extreme poverty lies in the African country of Uganda, where nearly 80% of its citizens could not afford food in 2012 (“Many in Developing Nations Struggle to Afford Food”). In addition, the quantity of hungry people in Africa grew from 1990-2012 from 175 million to 239 million, with one in four people facing undernourishment or various symptoms of starvation (“2013 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics by World Hunger Education Service”). As a struggling continent in the developing Global South, Africa justifies a desperate need for drastic increases in economic and human development in numerous respects.
Non-violent issues such as disease and the lack of a widespread, adequate education system certainly pose threats to the development of Africa. However, corruption and violence are two additional, prominent forces that continue to plague the continent as a whole (Shah). Because of the perpetual violence and elevated levels of corruption, Africa has produced over 9 million refugees and “internally displaced” people since 2000 (“By Origin Table”). Electoral corruption in a relatively unstable democratic system in Kenya is a prime example of such corruption experienced in Africa (Campbell).
The African continent as a whole faces substantial obstacles. Yet visions from China, the United States, and Africa continue to ...

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...urces does not prove to be a big enough boost to put the African nation on the same level as larger developing nations such as China and Brazil (Carroll).
Conclusion
Africa has certainly experienced and will continue endure issues and struggles regarding development in its place in the Global South. It will be a continual battle to control issues such as corruption, violence, disease, and overall poverty. Despite this, the continent as a whole appears to be surprisingly poised for at least marginal levels of growth and success in the years to come. Agencies and private investors, such as the African Union and Shanghai Zendai Property Ltd., along with increased business interests from companies in Great Britain of the Global North, have the potential to overcome the difficulties the African continent has faced since the dawn of the colonial era of the 15th century.

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