FACTORS AND IMPACTS FOR THE WIDENING GAP OF DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN AFRICA AND EUROPE FROM THE 15THC
Development is many sided process from low level to high level of development in all aspects of life (politically, economically and socially).
Is a progressive change from low level to high level or is a sudden/gradual change from low level to high level.
Many Historians like Walter Rodney argue that from the 15thc onward African continent was left behind in all aspects of life due to the following reasons.
A: DURING MERCANTILISM
Mercantilism is an economic policy conducted through overseas trade where by gold and silver (precious metals) were accumulated and used as coins by European coins by European merchants through primitive accumulation of capital like piracy, kidnapping, looting etc. The trade was conducted between Africa, Europe and America.
1. Slave trade.
As a process of buying and selling of human beings as commodities led to the widening gap between Africa and Europe. Several slave trade activities were conducted in Africa such as The Trans-Atlantic slave trade, East African slave trade.
Because of slave trade Africans who were productive in the economy were taken to offer their labour in the mines and plantation established by European capitalists in countries such as USA, Canada, Brazil etc.
The mines and plantations were producing raw materials to feed European industries. Slave trade removed labour force from Africa which was highly needed if Africa was to achieve development in all aspects hence widening a gap between Africa and Europe.
2. Unequal exchange.
Unequal exchange during mercantilism was one among the factors for the widening gap. there was inequality of exchange that existed between Africa and Europe from the 15thC onwards which led to widen gap For Example The Africans supplied valuable goods such as gold, ivory, silver, diamond, etc. to Europeans while Europeans supplied commodities with low value mostly they supplied luxurious and consumable goods such as alcohol, out dated guns, looking mirrors, ornaments and clothes which had no or less potential to the socio-economic development of Africa.
3. Primitive accumulation of capital.
During mercantilism European merchants with the help of their nations could travel to Africa and other continents where they accumulated wealth through primitive ways of accumulating wealth such as looting, crusade, plundering, and piracy. etc.
Sometimes they conquered the weak states found in Africa and accumulated wealth, It should be remembered that the wealth accumulated was used to develop industries and infrastructures in Europe hence widen the gap.
4. The European Marine technology.
During the 15thC during the mercantilism; the marine technology was more advanced in Europe. Because of newly invented technology it led to widening of the gap. Example the introduction of geographical maps, compass direction and sea going vessel enabled the European merchants to travel across the oceans example Vasco Dagama who travelled to different parts of the world, Christopher Columbus who discovered the new world.
The European traders travelled to different parts of the world searching for markets, raw materials and areas for investment. This enabled them to accumulate a lot of capital that they used to invest in their countries‟ development.
5. Emergence of European merchant kings.
Emergence of European merchant kings who were interested in trade ventures to a large extent led the widening of gap between Africa and Europe; because European merchants could travel widely in different parts of the world and accumulate wealth and capital and later the capital accumulated by the European merchant kings was invested in economic sectors.
Merchant kings were such as King Henry the navigator of Portugal, The Tudor Monarchy in England especially King Henry VII and many others .These European merchant were vigorously supported by their government and hence the accumulated a lot of wealth for European development hence resulted to widen gap between Europe and Africa.
B: DURING COLONIALISM
Colonialism is a situation where by a strong nations dominate the weak nations economically, socially and politically which was established in Africa from the second half of 19thC led to the underdevelopment of African countries as follows:-
6. Stagnation and destruction of African technology.
Africans who were skilled, knowledgeable, and trained were taken to the plantations and mines to work as cheap labors also colonialists introduced laws that destroyed African technology such as chopping, imposing and brutal punishment to people who got involved in practicing African technology. Example in Congo people who were making clothes and melting iron were chopped off their hands .All this was done to kill African technology.
7. Exploitation of African resources.
During colonialist Europeans got Africa as place where they could get areas for market, labor, raw materials, areas for investment of their surplus capital and areas for settling their excess population hence Europeans got a lot of wealth and capital from African continent for their own development of Africa.
8. Introduction of legitimate trade in Africa.
After the abolition of slave trade there was introduction of legitimate trade which was also unequal trade. It involved exchange of natural products (agricultural and mineral Conference (1884-1885).With legitimate trade intensive exploitation of African resources took place.
Africans supplied raw materials such as rubber, cocoa, groundnuts palm oil etc. and minerals to the Europeans such as silver, gold, copper etc. This enabled Europeans to accumulate wealth and made Africa a place for satisfying European capitalist demands.
C: NEO COLONIALISM
Neo colonialism is the process whereby a country is independent politically but economically still dominated by the strong nations; sometimes neo colonialism is known as flag independence simply because these nations which are weak economically have no power to decide concerning their own development.
African leaders acting as puppet leaders for their former colonial masters.
The Fact that some African leaders after independence are still cooperating with the Europeans to exploit African resources and protect the interests of Europeans. Example the late Mobutu Seseseko in former Zaire now DRC; corrupted resources for France and for himself, Fodey Senko of Sierra Leone, Charles Taylor of Liberia.
Also Neo Colonialism is also used by the economically developed countries such as USA which has world‟s financial institutions (like International Monetary Fund, World Bank) to devaluate local currencies in Africa and giving hard conditions to African countries so that they can ensure that Africa remains underdeveloped and dependent.
D: GLOBALIZATION AND PRIVATIZATION
This also led to underdevelopment of African continent and development of European continent. Globalization is the process which increases interconnection of the people all over the world. Through globalization Africa has become a market for European manufactured goods that have low quality and also it has resulted to the deterioration of African culture.
IMPACTS OF WIDENING GAP OF DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN AFRICA AND EUROPE
It led to introduction of an increased slave trade in Africa.
Led to increase and expansion of unequal exchange between Africa and Europe.
It has led to destruction of African technology and local industries.
Led to destruction of African culture and introduction of European culture.
Led to introduction of legitimate trade after the abolition of slave trade in which Africans continued to be affected.
It led to introduction of colonialism in Africa.
African continent is still a market of European manufactured goods, and area to invest capital and a dumping place for European outdated products and goods of low quality.
Through neo - colonialism African continent is still dominated by big powers in all aspects of life by using ways such as militarism where by European former colonial masters tend to come to Africa for peace keeping and training African soldiers, through(Structural Adjustment Program(SAP).