World issues - social/political/economic Flashcards
Potential causes of underdevelopment in Africa
Political corruption, political incompetence,poor education, gender inequalities, poverty, debt
E: political corruption
Political corruption is when people in positions of political power abuse that power for their own benefit. As theres few democracies in Africa, many politicians make unpopular decisions which bring personal financial gain, knowing that they cannot be voted out of power. These decisions might hinder effective public service.
How political corruption leads to underdevelopment
Led to underdevelopment- corrupt practices can lead to the misallocation of public funds which mean essential services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure development underperform and damage socio-economic outcomes for citizens.
Example for political corruption
For decades, Angola’s Dos Santos family ruled the country, using their power to control banks, oil, telecom, and diamond industries, making Isabel Dos Santos known as “Africa’s Richest Woman.”
E: political incompetence
This means that decision makers may not have the skills, knowledge or experience needed to effectively run the country and meet the needs of its people. Such governments cannot be trusted to deliver key services and they often make choices which are not in the best interests of the country, holding back its development.
How politcial incompetence causes underdeveloped
This causes underdevelopment because it can lead to inefficient management of resources and this leads to economic instability, weak infrastructure, and underinvestment in education and healthcare.
Example for political incompetence
Despite substantial oil revenues, Nigeria struggles with development due to fund misallocation and mismanagement.
E:poor education
Challenges include a lack of qualified teachers, inadequate infrastructure, outdated teaching materials, and a shortage of learning resources. Quality issues can reduce the effectiveness of education in preparing students for the world of work.
How poor education leads to underdevelopment
This leads to underdevelopment- poorly educated individuals often face challenges in finding employment or may end up in low-skilled jobs. This can lead to high levels of unemployment, contributing to economic stagnation and poverty.
Example for poor education
teachers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUBSA) are so poorly qualified that only around 50% of secondary teachers are actually trained to teach at that level
E: gender inequalities within education
Gender inequality is a problem across the world but it is a major issue in developing countries where societies continue to restrict the rights of women, control their bodies and view them as inferior. Factors like cultural norms, early marriage, long distances to schools, and economic constraints have contributed to lower enrolment rates for girls compared to boys.
How GI in education leads to underdevelopment
Leads to underdevelopment-when girls and women are denied access to education, it limits their opportunities for economic and social participation. - perpetuates cycles of poverty and hinders overall development.
Example for GI in education
The UN reports that 1/3rd of developing countries do not have an equal number of girls as boys in school
E:poverty
Hundreds of millions in Africa face daily poverty, driven by colonial history, economic exploitation, poor infrastructure, political instability, and limited access to education and healthcare
How poverty contributes to underdevelopment
Contributes to underdevelopment- those in low paid work will pay less taxes. Meaning that the Government have less money to fund important services, ensuring that some African nations are held back from their development potential.
