“How has Africa’s internal diversity and outside influences affected its development and ability to be a part of the modern global community?”
Africa is currently a continent of extreme poverty and instability. By studying the history of African countries, a trend can be seen concerning the path that leads each of these countries to this poor state. Most African countries were at one-point colonies of European nations who wanted to exploit new resources, take advantage of the people or simply gain more land. Before colonizing Africa, the continent was comprised of hundreds of ethnic groups with their own boundaries. However, when the Europeans moved in and split Africa between themselves, they created new borders, disrupting those previously formed and respected by ethnic groups. This created tension within each country, and once the Europeans left, these tensions erupted, often leading to suppressive dictators and many opposing groups fighting for power. Even today in Africa, many years after colonization, civil wars are common, human rights are violated and countries are falling politically and socially. This is evident in Rwanda, Sudan and Sierra Leone to name a few. Madagascar is another African country that was colonized, however, it has had a slightly better outcome than many other African countries. Even though Madagascar was a French colony for 63 years, due to the fact that there were no competing ethnic groups in the country, but instead different political parties within a Republican government, no major civil wars have broken out and the instability within the country is instead a result of decisions made by the elected leaders.
The French colonized Madagascar in 1897, and put a military commander Gallieni in power. He helped the country develop economically by building roads and railroads, and he instituted French schools and products. However in 1947, like many other African countries, a nationalist group called the Democratic Movement for Malagasy Renewal gained power and fought the French army. However instead of leading to a civil war, Madagascar was able to choose between either immediately cutting off all links with France or creating an internal autonomy within the French Community. The Malagasy people chose an internal autonomy and appointed Philibert Tsiranana, the founder of the Social Democratic Party, as president of the Republic of Madagascar. Tsiranana continued western connections throughout the cold war, which ensured trading opportunities. One of the reasons that Madagascar did not erupt into civil war once they gained independence could have been due to its ability to choose its own governmental system with France, and also because of its isolation. Due to the fact that Madagascar is an island, when the Europeans created national boundaries within Africa, Madagascar was unaffected. The ethnic groups were not split up and had been living together peacefully for many years already. This could be a major reason for the lack of cultural tensions and wars.
Despite this lack of ethnic conflict Madagascar still suffers from economic and social decline. Instead of having contrasting ethnic beliefs, like in Rwanda between the Hutus and Tutsis, the problems in Madagascar have been caused by poor decisions by elected leaders. For example, following the rule of Tsiranana, Major General Gabriel Ramanantsoa became the leader, but ended all connections with the Western countries and turned to communist countries instead. Several successors continued these connections, which caused the economy to decline.
The conditions in Madagascar have failed to improve, and more recently were impacted by the coup de’at in 2009. Previously, leaders had been elected through popular vote, and political oppositions would arise and gain enough support to win the elections fairly. However in 2009 President Ravolamanana was forced to step down by pressure from the military led by Andry Rajoelina. Since elections were not held, international communities are calling this change in power a military coup de’at. The reason for this seize of power was due to conflicting ideas regarding the laws being established in Madagascar, not due to ethnic issues as in many other African countries. However, Rajoelina’s rise to power still led to declining social and economic conditions in Madagascar, a reoccurring trend in African countries.
Luckily Madagascar has a better looking future, as the South African Development Community is trying to improve the economic, social and political decisions in the country. They have created a “Roadmap for Ending the Crisis in Madagascar” which outlines the plan for Rajoelina to officially be declared President and allow all banished individuals, including Ravalomanana, to return to Madagascar and run as the leader of the opposing political group in the next election. Most rival groups have signed this plan, which means Madagascar will most likely be able to continue as a Republic instead of erupting into a civil war.
By comparing the history and success in Madagascar and other African cultures, it is clear that the lack of ethnic tensions and the establishment of a Republic led to less tension in the country, yet did not solve the economic and social decline found across Africa. Since competing ethnic groups are not the problem there must be another factor, and education is a likely candidate. Education in Africa is not as advanced as it is in Europe and America, therefore, potential leaders may not have sufficient knowledge to run a country successfully. Furthermore, the low education levels among the citizens limits their success in life. Therefore, as education continues to slowly improve in Madagascar and other African nations, hopefully the stability of these countries will also begin to increase. As more time passes since the colonization of Africa, and ethnic conflicts continue to be resolved, African countries may play a larger part in the global community, increasing resources accessible to the world as well as enhancing the living standards of the continent.
The French colonized Madagascar in 1897, and put a military commander Gallieni in power. He helped the country develop economically by building roads and railroads, and he instituted French schools and products. However in 1947, like many other African countries, a nationalist group called the Democratic Movement for Malagasy Renewal gained power and fought the French army. However instead of leading to a civil war, Madagascar was able to choose between either immediately cutting off all links with France or creating an internal autonomy within the French Community. The Malagasy people chose an internal autonomy and appointed Philibert Tsiranana, the founder of the Social Democratic Party, as president of the Republic of Madagascar. Tsiranana continued western connections throughout the cold war, which ensured trading opportunities. One of the reasons that Madagascar did not erupt into civil war once they gained independence could have been due to its ability to choose its own governmental system with France, and also because of its isolation. Due to the fact that Madagascar is an island, when the Europeans created national boundaries within Africa, Madagascar was unaffected. The ethnic groups were not split up and had been living together peacefully for many years already. This could be a major reason for the lack of cultural tensions and wars.
Despite this lack of ethnic conflict Madagascar still suffers from economic and social decline. Instead of having contrasting ethnic beliefs, like in Rwanda between the Hutus and Tutsis, the problems in Madagascar have been caused by poor decisions by elected leaders. For example, following the rule of Tsiranana, Major General Gabriel Ramanantsoa became the leader, but ended all connections with the Western countries and turned to communist countries instead. Several successors continued these connections, which caused the economy to decline.
The conditions in Madagascar have failed to improve, and more recently were impacted by the coup de’at in 2009. Previously, leaders had been elected through popular vote, and political oppositions would arise and gain enough support to win the elections fairly. However in 2009 President Ravolamanana was forced to step down by pressure from the military led by Andry Rajoelina. Since elections were not held, international communities are calling this change in power a military coup de’at. The reason for this seize of power was due to conflicting ideas regarding the laws being established in Madagascar, not due to ethnic issues as in many other African countries. However, Rajoelina’s rise to power still led to declining social and economic conditions in Madagascar, a reoccurring trend in African countries.
Luckily Madagascar has a better looking future, as the South African Development Community is trying to improve the economic, social and political decisions in the country. They have created a “Roadmap for Ending the Crisis in Madagascar” which outlines the plan for Rajoelina to officially be declared President and allow all banished individuals, including Ravalomanana, to return to Madagascar and run as the leader of the opposing political group in the next election. Most rival groups have signed this plan, which means Madagascar will most likely be able to continue as a Republic instead of erupting into a civil war.
By comparing the history and success in Madagascar and other African cultures, it is clear that the lack of ethnic tensions and the establishment of a Republic led to less tension in the country, yet did not solve the economic and social decline found across Africa. Since competing ethnic groups are not the problem there must be another factor, and education is a likely candidate. Education in Africa is not as advanced as it is in Europe and America, therefore, potential leaders may not have sufficient knowledge to run a country successfully. Furthermore, the low education levels among the citizens limits their success in life. Therefore, as education continues to slowly improve in Madagascar and other African nations, hopefully the stability of these countries will also begin to increase. As more time passes since the colonization of Africa, and ethnic conflicts continue to be resolved, African countries may play a larger part in the global community, increasing resources accessible to the world as well as enhancing the living standards of the continent.