Tag: history
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South Africa’s hard truths
South Africa is widely considered as a modern industrializing country, with one of the world’s most progressive constitutions that prides itself on inclusiveness. South Africa is fondly known as the “rainbow nation” due to its diverse and multicultural society. Despite much internal and external resistance, it held a much heralded truth and reconciliation commission after…
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From Altruism to Strategy: Understanding Africa’s Rising Role in Geopolitics
The history of Western assistance or investment in Africa has been altruistic and born out of colonial guilt. For decades, Africa has been on the periphery of geopolitics. In other words, the continent was treated as a non-entity in the power play of global politics. That narrative, however, is changing. The overall structure and organization…
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Democracy in Africa: Overcoming Election Violence Challenges
Hooliganism is gradually lifting its ugly head in African elections. Post- election violence in some regions of the continent does not augur well for Africa’s march towards democratic consolidation. Who would have thought that Kenya, regarded as a paragon and oasis of peace and political stability in an otherwise volatile region in East Africa, would…
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Africa’s Path to Economic Independence
After half a century of decolonization, Africa remains mostly dependent on its former colonial powers for economic sustenance and assistance. Political independence has yet to materialize into economic independence. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah famously once declared “Africa must unite or perish.” History has shown what he said many decades ago to be true. He believed that…
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The Impact of Elite Rule on Africa’s Development
Many of Africa’s intractable political and economic shortcomings could be seen as the incapability of the people of ruling themselves. Some have posited that the colonial powers opted out of the continent prematurely. In this politically correct age, such views are seldom spoken openly by either foes or friends of Africa. Conversely, it would be…
Global Politics Today 