[rdl]

Actually, a lot of white people visit Africa and do a lot of good, still -- both businesspeople and (usually religious) charities and development organizations. Largely enough good to make up for the big NGOs and UN, and some of the legacy of colonialism and the cold war.

[WesternStar]

I know you think Africa is still largely a charity case but everyone else knows that its the next big growth market that will be easily plundered due to weak political systems and fragmentation.

[rdl]

No, I think Africa is mostly a business opportunity, sans a few places which have structural political problems which could be best addressed through high-velocity physics demonstrations. But it's undeniable that the US v. USSR caused a lot of problems during the cold war (Angola, etc), including propping up a lot of bad leaders or supporting revolutions.

I don't think it will be "plundered", though -- the foreigners (white and Asian) doing business going to Africa are making life better for everyone.

There are a lot of NGOs and UN organizations still operating in Africa which don't help (and never really helped). But there are small, usually religious, charities who are also doing good, just like they do in Asia, Europe, and the US.

[Retric]

Week political systems make it much risker to do business in Africa. Stupid people look at Africa as a growth opertunity's but few westerners got rich in Russa after the cold war. Weak government actually makes political connections more important just look at China.

[WesternStar]

Actually look to china for the model for exploitation in Africa arrangements established at the state for exploitation. You need political connections no doubt but Africa is no sob story at all. Its undiscovered gold.

[prollyignored]

> ... market that will be easily plundered due to weak political systems and fragmentation.

Profit from weapons. Profit from (medical) patents. Will never sell industrial patents, whilst exploiting African Earth.

You know the story of how chickens are fed dead-chicken-matter ?

The white man know only to take. Never to give.