Things Fell Apart analysis

Things Fell Apart analysis

The economic development of the majority of African countries has been defined by corruption and bad leadership. African leaders have been known for refusing to let go of power for decades. For example, the former president of Zimbabwe ruled for 38 years, the current president of Uganda has been on power for over 26 years, the second president of Kenya was in power for 24 years, and the former president of Gambia was in power for over 24 years to mention but a few. The leaders have generally allowed their friends and families to acquire wealth that allows them to hold on to power easily. In the Things Fell Apart, Bates analyzes the challenges in the building of a strong economy and stability in African nations. The author analyzes the different nations and the mistakes made in the development of a good economic background. Making reference to the famous title of the book by Chinua Achebe, Bates captures the perceived reason for the economic stagnancy in African nations. in the lectures, the Bates analysis express economic instability as being based on placing the role on the state, state control of imports, control of agriculture, foreign borrowing, contractual interactions with European nations.

Bates lecture focusses on the concept of development being stalled by the state controlling the market. As highlighted in the lecturer, “post-colonial development in Africa (in the third world generally) were shaped by an erroneous belief in the ability of states to substitute for markets in order to force economic growth” (‘POLI120_Class_Notes_Jan22’ 1). In that, the market was exchanged by the market, thus allowing the state to operate in a communist manner. The socialist approach to the market is expressed as being challenging in the advancement of the market as capitalism on the lower levels was limited. The interaction of the state with the market aided in the development of a different form of interaction in the nations. As highlighted in the Sowing of Seeds, “report that constituents viewed politicians as their agents whose job it was to bring material benefits to the local community – jobs, loans, or cash. Those in Kenya, Barkan notes, stoked the fires of political ambition, inciting candidates to bid for political support by contributing funds for the construction of local projects” (Bates 38). In that, the state control of the market meant that the local citizens did not develop unless the government was involved. The actions of the government in the involvement in the market sparked the aspect of control and corruption. The leaders in the different nations have been able to control the resources. Thus a development was made in relation to tribalism and nepotism rather than based on the needs of the people.

Secondly, Bates associates the challenges in the development of African nations with import control. The control of imports in the nations meant the government-controlled development of the market in the nation. The difference in the export, import, and the profits made in the local market has been critical in the advancement of major economies in the world. The limitation on the exportation by the local communities in African nations ensured a monopoly of the government in export and import. In the process, the people were limited from getting goods and different forms of skills in the international business world. As mentioned in the lecture, “states attempted to control exports, the primary source of hard currency used in the import of machinery and inputs necessary for urbanization” (‘POLI120_Class_Notes_Jan22’ 1). In the analysis of the different nations, Bates realized the limitations on the advancement of the imports and exports business. With the limitations of the source of income and businesses, the countries struggled with the development of their currencies and financial stability. The development of the African nations is expressed and being limited by the progress viewed in other parts of the world as industrialization was equally limited. Relying on the local market was the only solution for entrepreneurs, thus causing stagnation in the economy. Apart from the limitation on the aspect of imports, bates mention the increased limitation on agricultural development.

Bates highlights the limitation on the Agricultural sectors by control of the sales made by the farmers. The majority of the nations in Africa focused on the advancement of agriculture after the colonial period. The farmers had adopted the different plants and food devices left behind by the colonial leaderships; thus, farming was the main source of income for the majority of the families. However, in the post-colonial period, the analyst explains that the governments “attempted to buy agricultural exports that were the key earners by monopolizing the farmer’s sales” (‘POLI120_Class_Notes_Jan22’ 2). The monopoly created by the governments equivalently led to the deterioration of the sector. As explained in the text, “They created monopsonies for the purchase of both export and food crops. Governments purchased the cash crops at a low domestic price, sold them at the prices prevailing in international markets, and deposited the difference in the public treasury” (Bates 59). In that, the government benefited from the farming while the farmers suffered in the process. The limitation of the agricultural sector caused the local farmers to suffer as the government officials had access to the finances in the different government accounts. The limitation meant that the local farmers suffered and could not progress in terms of better farming techniques, better seedlings, and better farming skills and knowledge.

Additionally, the increase in the limitation of the profits passed to the farmers led to an increase in sustenance farming rather than cash crop farming. The growth of cocoa, coffee, and tea had to become too challenging for the majority of the farmers. Although the product was sought after in the international markets, the profits for the local markets and farmers had become increasingly limited by the government. As highlighted in the text by Bates, “When governments regulated urban industries, they protected the profits of urban firms: By limiting competition, they granted them the power to set prices to their advantage. When governments regulated agriculture, they conferred market power on consumers” (59). The majority of the cash crop farmers were not protected by the government. As mentioned above, the government relied on the difference acquired in the export of the agricultural products for self-sustenance. Therefore, the inability of the local farmers to tend for their crops and support themselves led to the change in the style of farming. The local farmers changed to the farming of local foods to be used in the homes, and movement in the city became rampant.

The rural to urban migration is one of the main reasons for past and modern economic instability. The change in the style of farming in the villages and townships meant the source of income in the villages became limited. Majority of the younger people sought after the shift to the cities to be able to purchase the subsidized goods for the families. As expressed in the lecture notes, “migration to the cities, consumption of subsidized food” became the main structure of the society (‘POLI120_Class_Notes_Jan22′ 2). The change in the patterns of farming leads to a massive movement into the cities. In the majority of the cities, the companies were given the freedom to control their market prices. Therefore, the profit margins were bigger, and more people could have sustaining jobs and purchasing power. The shift into the urban settlement allowed different industries in the cities to develop, such as housing, manufacturing, and brokering businesses. However, the government treasuries and the local farmers in the rural areas experienced a decline in their financial stability.

In light of the collapse of cash crop farming, the African nations started the concept of foreign borrowing to sustain the government. Crop farming had allowed the government to make a profit from selling the goods at a higher price than expected by the farmers. The collapse of the system led to the advancement of the borrowing culture, which was advanced by western countries. As Bates explains, “Many then borrowed, finding willing lenders among banks now flush with deposits from the oil-producing states. When the commodity booms receded, these governments were then faced with the costs of servicing their debts” (100). The African nations had provided a commodity for sale and received compensation. Therefore, the lack of good meant the foreign governments needed to benefit from the interests in the loans given to the African nations. The interaction with the foreign governments without a clear system and solution on the process of paying meant the African nations paid the government for decades. The systematic challenges of economic stability in African nations are viewed as following a specific path. In that, the inability to control the market effectively, misuse of funds, and the borrowing culture lead to the decline of economic stability. The inability of the governments to self-sustain led to the advancement of the borrowing culture that continues to affect the nation from borrowing in the western nations and currently in the affluent Asian countries. Unfortunately, the finances borrowed from the foreign governments and international banks were not used for the advancement of the systems that would aid in the creation of main industries. The corruption and self-interest of the African long term leaders meant the government had no sufficient systems of paying the debt. Moreover, the main sustaining system of agriculture was not advanced.

The economic stability of the African nation is furthermore affected by the creation of contractual associations with the western nations. The failure to sustain the local market in the period of the total control of the market led to western control. As expressed in the lecture on Bates reading, “all the contracts with European state-building that bought compliance through the provision of tangible benefits in exchange for taxation cost” (POLI120_Class_Notes_Jan22’ 3). The advancement of the African government was based on the programs with the western nations. As a result, the state-building initiatives meant the government was tasked with paying for the systems put in place with the governments. The process of paying for the debts taken from the foreign governments meant the countries continued borrowing to sustain the national projects such as hospitals and schools. The European contracts served in the limiting of the government from making money in the local institutions.

The text by Bates offers a clear illustration of the causes of the economic instability in Africa. The African leaders in the selfish plan led to the collapse of the states and rendering of the states incapable of advancing. The local market control of export and import ensured that cash crop farmers could not make a living from the farming process, thus leading to the shift to substance farming and shift to the urban regions. In light of having no income for the governments, the African nations resulted in the borrowing and contracts with the European nations. The systematic explanation of Bates’s analysis aids the readers in understanding the background information and the effects of the decisions of leaders in the post-colonial era in African nations. The lecture captures the details of the economic crisis in the nations with precision and simplicity for the readers. The analysis by Bates expresses the different paths taken by the African nations, thus creating an in-depth understanding of the role of the governments in creating the economic crisis in the majority of the nations.