Nowadays, not many people ponder about the might of some nations and why it so happens that while several countries are wealthy and the rest remains on the verge of poverty and famine. The answer to this question is simple and logical since it is an “unbelievable strategic chess game, a racialist vision of the world deeply engraved in mind” (Icarus Films, 2011, 2:05). Economic theorists contend that underdeveloped nations are still being taken advantage of by the richest nations and multinational corporations worldwide (Name of University, date). In the video Berlin 1885: The division of Africa, one might see how the leaders of the powerful nations decide upon the division of the continent, being “engaged in a race for more territories” (Icarus Films, 2011, 1:51). Thus, when it comes to the colonization, the Western countries were not generous and did not desire to have the land to simply guard the emerging countries.
The same idea is expressed in the video A brief history of European colonization in Africa. Colonialism marked the start of exploitation, and it can be characterized as a form of dominance. The aim was to control indigenous resources, authorities, workforce, and markets through the use of vast military might and other types of physical coercion, such as settlers with firearms, mass slaughter, and violence (Name of University, date). As it can be corroborated by the video, “African colonization was motivated by the European hunger for African resources” (DeeJayAllah, 2012, 0:7). In the end, it was the “vilest scramble for loot that ever disfigured the history of human conscience” (DeeJayAllah, 2012, 2:17). Thus, Western countries merely tried to impose their sociopolitical, economic, social, and cultural institutions on native communities and other established peoples.
Hence, global inequality can be characterized as the outcome of the wealthiest nations trying to become ever richer at the expense of emerging countries. It was evident during the times of colonization when foreign entities tried to impose their sociopolitical and economic institutions on the developing nations. However, during the mass division of African regions between Western countries, the aim was not to educate the population or make their lives better but simply to exploit the resources and human labor.
References
DeeJayAllah. (2012).A brief history of European colonization in Africa. YouTube.
Icarus Films. (2011). Berlin 1885: The division of Africa. YouTube.
[Name of University]. (date). Module 10.4: The global economy.