Why African Nation...?

[Observer]

Why African Nation have too mcuh dictators? WHAT DO YOU THINK? Not only too much dectatorship but also visionless, corruption, greediness and after all they don't want to transfer power after their term is over and that is the most disgusting thing they are doing!

Are Africans are incapable of leading themselves?

[Ariadne]

Simply said Africa is having it's dark ages. Every continet went through their own dark ages; Asia, Europe, North America. Right now its Africa and South America. Things look very dire in both these areas, especially in Africa.

[TIIMBARO]

Africans have tendency to shift the blame to other parties, the people are inclined to dwell on the

experience of the colonial times. Many other countries also underwent the colonial experience and those countries recovered. Why can't Africa recover? There's a deep-rooted inferiority complex, which the Africans have. They don't believe they can help themselves to make themselves independent of foreign aid, which doesn't help them because it reinforces how the other countries viewed the Africans. It's a complex issue that goes far beyond the realm of biological factor.

[La Fidele]

There's a deep-rooted inferiority complex, which the Africans have.

Err, I wouldn't totally agree with that, Jeenyo. Remember the colonial experience in most African states does not extend 120 years (Ethiopia had no more than a few years of Italian occupation). African history before the introduction of European imperialism is dynamic and glorious. So this inferiority you claim to be deep-rooted: that's hardly the case.

Africa doesn't differ from any other developing region; look at the Middle East, for goodness sakes. Despite their natural wealth, they're hardly steps ahead.

I don't want to give one blanket answer, because this is a really complex issue, Observer. But I think one of the greatest factors is that these African states have had only 50-odd years to readjust into the Western standards of statehood, with no more guidance than to imitate the empty mold left behind by the colonizers .

[TIIMBARO]

I am always very careful to make sweeping generalization of any kind. It’s obviously wrong to assume that the reason why Africa is in such a tight spot is because there’s something inherently wrong with Africans themselves. The issue isn’t genetics, it’s culture. There are cultural problems that are leaving African countries vulnerable. Brother you do have to admit that Africans do suffer from inferiority complex, whether they publicly displayed or not. They just don’t think they can make themselves independent of foreign aid in anyway, and when they’re giving token aid the military spend it on the army, which further destabilizes the country. Instead of waiting for the great “white hope”, why don’t they turn that energy of fighting each other into trying to built something constructive. They’re jus incapable of self-criticism, which in my view could have prevented them from so much calamities. I am sure some of the problems these Africans countries are suffering from can be attributed to the colonial experience, but how long will they blame them.

[Matkey]

I totally disagree with you. First, Africa has been western's sphere of influence.Yes Africa's economic, social and political stagnation could be partly blaimed on itself. But you seem to be forgetting that Africa has never been free from outside influences. The British went to Africa because Africans were "barabrians" who wanted to be saved from their babaric act through christianization. Today the some policy is pursued by the western---democratizing the region would brign solution to its problem

 

Let me remind you that the process of democratization is not static. It needs to evolve the same way it did in the western hemisphere. To most of the African countries democracy is an alien system. The implication is that Africa can establish viable political system that could only fit its own norms and values. But this needs time to evolve. The western countries were successful in adopting and sustaining a democratic system; because both the people and the state respected the social contract between the rulers and the ruled. Due to the external forces (western), Africa never had the time establish state legitimacy. legitimacy can be defined as a psychological relationship between the governed and the governors that engenders a belief that state’s leaders and institution have a right to exercise political authority over the rest of the society. Post-independence African was never givern the time to reinstate its political system. African countries came out of the colonial rule and fell into authoritarian rule. The African people never had the opportunity to experience any other political system, except that of their authoritarian regime--inherited from the colonial legacy.

[Matkey]

I am refering this to jeenyo's remark.

[Liqaye]

i think that africas problems start from the assumption that democracy is the only answer, we are asking the same insipid questions.

can a system devised next to the potomac be transferred in totality to the banks of the congo i think not.

secondly the more i look at democracy the more it seems it is the most effective way of people enslaving themselves.

i might not be politically correct, but i donot and cannot start off the mark with "democracy is the panecea to all".

[Matkey]

Hi OGUN,

 

I think you misunderstood my point. I am not insinuating that democracy is the solution to the African problems. On the contrary, I am opposing the notion that democratization, sustained by moderanization theory, is the remedy to our political and economical problem. Remember the advocates of this system (democracy in the western context) have one thing in mind—to exploit other nation. They neither concern nor care about the well being of the others. This is all about power and domination. In fact they want keep to the so-called third world countries in state of dependency, so that they can extract all the resources and so on. I am cynical about the policies set forth by US and the likes.

 

 

"i might not be politically correct, but i donot and cannot start off the mark with "democracy is the panecea to all".

 

 

On the contrary what i said was Africa can establish viable political system that could only fit its own norms and values. In other words, the so-called democracy is only applicable to a society whose social structure is based on capitalism mode of production. Africa has culture, which predates the western civilization. What Africa needs is political system that is compatible with the existing social structure. In reality the so-called democracy only works within structural constrains.

[India]

I Could not have put it better than Matkey.

 

Africa needs to wake up and adopt a "system" that suits and meets her needs. The root of Africa's evil lie within this fatal "democractic" ideologies. Look at Somalia or former Somalia I should say, if you look closely you will see that we are people operated by sadly qabiil and on the positive side tradition and culture. Now when you put a government in place that claims to be "Democratic" yet at the heart of it lived by the old rule cited above you will undoubtly have clash of interests. What Africa needs to do is scrap these theories and methods of goverance put in place by former colonists and start living on good ol common sense and where as the law is concerened than I say "Sharia" all the way.

 

Democracy is nothing more than a "state of mind". Honestly, there is not one place in these world where countries are "run by the ppl for the ppl". Look at America, land robbed of its natives, built on slave labour and currently run by "fictious" president who won by cheating the system. Where is the democracy in that?

 

Lets pray for Africa for it will need to take a large leap of faith to go from the dark ages to the millinum.

 

 

Angel_Dust.

[TIIMBARO]

What Africa needs is a radical redefinition of “democracy”, So far they have been working with the definition given to them by the colonial masters. Imitating the western democracy has proved to be fruitless for Africans. Having drawn that conclusion, let’s discuss if there’s a superior political system that most African countries can implement into their institutions. Instead of just reiterating what was already said, why don’t we discuss how this so-called “dark continent” can compete with the rest of the world? These negative analyses of Africa will soon graduate to self-hating mind-set, that’s just how I see it.

[Matkey]

Jeenyo, we finally agree with one another.

 

As you stated, we have to redefine the term democracy in order to establish a workable system. In fact i am not qiute sure if the term itself has intrinsic meaning.

 

Angle-_Dust, thanks for agreeing with me. I can see that we both have a critical approach to this topic. You said “democracy is a state of mind.” That is why I said it doesn’t have an intrinsic meaning. It can be practiced the way one sees it fit. In terms of Shari’a, I don’t honestly know if we are ready to adopt it as a political system. Look at our conditions as Muslim Ummal, in terms of our conduct, behaviour and so on. How many of us go to the mosque for every salat? How many of us refrain from what Allah prohibited us? Are we really ready to implement the Shar’a? This is a question that needs to be answered by those who have more knowledge in the realm of Islam.

 

Africa is a very large continent with a different kind of religions, ritual, customs and so on. In other words, Africa is not a predominantly a Muslim. Angle_dust, I am trying to include all the other African countries in this discussion. As Africans we all have one goal—to free ourselves from the colonial legacy. We inherited a system, which is detrimental to our political, economic, and social interest. I am aware that most of Muslim countries need the Shar'a rule. However, this doesn’t mean that all the other Africans must have an Islamic state that practices Shari’a. Unarguably, Islam is what the world needs, because every other system failed to entail a peaceful resolution to the current social unrest in many parts of the world. But we all have to remember that imposing one’s ideology, religion, and culture on others is wrong. Islam doesn’t conger, but wins the heart of the people.

 

Thanks Jeenyo and Angle_Dust for sharing your ideas with me.

[India]

Matkey,

 

Salaam,

 

Although I agree with you on all the points you raised above, I wish to add on to your suggestions. But before I do so, may I clarify one point. The question of Sharia law. I indeed suggested this in my earlier postings but to the point of where applicable. I accept the argument of it not being imposed on others. I believe in Islamic nations adopting sharia law. I also know that within Islamic state it will still proof to be too severe, maybe even barbaric and to a large extent contraversial. This brings me to my first point. As you advised, the question of practising sharia law within our socities rule of law needs to be addressed by those knowledgable of Islam. Now, as a Islamic nation and muslim people should we not be ALL knowledgable of Sharia law; what is faul and what is fair? Isn't a poor excuse to say we are a muslim nation and yet we can not practise sharia law becuase we are not knowledgable about it. And, in all honesty, isn't sharia law basic common sense. Dont drink--becuase when one is drank he or she is not responsible for thier state of mind,thus one can argue they were under the influence of toxins --now in sharia law that person is still guilty becuase Islam bans drinking for this very reason. Isn't Sharia basic common sense. Dont steal becuase if its not your propert, it should not be in your possession. And the main reason, I suggest Sharia law, is its oppossed to killing in vain. Now we as Somalis have had first hand experience at killing each order ruthlessly. If we were all conversant in Islam and sharia law, do you think those massacres in Hargiasa, Buroa and am sure several states even in the Southern part of Somalia would have taken place. I think not. I will be the first to put up my hand and admit that I am not knowledgable of Islam and that is why perhaps most people don not refrain from these crimes and sins.

This brings me to my second point. If I may divert from the discourse of "democracy" on whcih we both argee on it being " how one sees it fit". Before Somalia and all the other African nations attempt of adopting a system that translates to thier way of life and thinking and therefore in the end benefits their society, should we not have a a common ground? How can a continet with a vast population with such astonishing illitracy rates-expect to develop on this platform when say 90%of the Somali Ppl are Illtrate. Should we not, before we adopt any elobrate ideas concetrate on having a common base and building a foundation and should this foundation not be a fast concentration on Education? And in the case of Somalia should that educational underatking not include Islam and Sharai law principles as a compulsary thought subject from an earl age?

 

Over to you ppl--what do you think and propose?

 

I propose Education as a problem solvant for Africa's distressed state.

 

Dusty.

[TIIMBARO]

Angel

 

We all want to implement Shari’ a, but it will encounter with many problems, devastations that we can not afford to face now. The ulema in Somalia are not in agreement with themselves, and if we implement Shari’ we will have to condemn some of them and this will indulge us into another twelve years of civil war. I am for implementing the Shari’ a but the prospect doesn’t look so promising

[Matkey]

Hi Dust and jeenyo

 

i think we are heading the right direction. frist, we managed to identify the root cause of our predicament. our second step is to form system that works for Afric. hardest thing is to identify the problem itself. AS one budhist said "when one knows his unhappiness, one knows his cure." since we know what our problems are, all we need to do is find the cure and use it accordingly. According to Dust, our cure is shar'a. I know it seems like i am abstaining from making any suggestion in terms of what kind of system we should adopt to-------- we must calculate or measure the pros and cons of whatever it is that we need to implent.