Why is Africa and the Middle East so poor?

[Parker99]

No. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE.

But they got rich of oil?

 

[Votto]

Why is Africa and the Middle East so poor?

Why did they not develop industries and factories?

I hear that Colonialism may be big factor had under Colonialism is the direct occupation and control of a region to extract resources and undermine its stability and growth.

Both regions have extremely long histories of this practice fracturing, breaking, and dismantling any mobility and upward growth. And have long history of Colonialism.

You hear capitalism is to blame do ya? Let me ask you, where would they have been without Capitalism since Capitalism is the only source of wealth in the world today?

 

[lg325]

Corrupt Politics both local and international. Africa has wealth in natural resources but it gets blocked from being used.
The solutions to Africa's poverty problems have been known for decades but politics stops it from being done. Example: Drought resistance wheat seeds from last I have heard are still stored in warehouses because some government boss decided not to use them. A Peace Corp fellow told me this. Also a missionary who gave a lecture at the church I went to also confirmed it. Politics! Some dictator isn't getting his butt kissed enough and people starve because of it.

 

[Oddball]

That’s a different topic

much of the ME is not poor ..as your OP seems to suggest…nor can colonialism be blamed on the struggle of African countries as we have examples of post colonial states being successful today.

The Chinese had a tremendously rich and technologically advanced culture, until the commies rolled in.

No colonialism there.

 

[Votto]

US interference and aggression for purposes of colonial expansion.

China and Russia winning U'S victims over with more acceptable methods of friendly persuasion.

Today, China uses diplomacy in Africa instead of brute force, and it does not seem to aspire to formal political control in the region. Yet, African economies are again responding to the rising demand for commodities by a rapidly industrialising power. Chinese investments in land, infrastructure and mines are flowing in. Mineral exports, and especially oil, are again taking a growing share of African exports.

Let me guess, this is just fine because they are your comrades, right?

And yes, without China turning to Capitalism, there was no way in hell they would ever have become a world economic power.

 

[Zincwarrior]

But they got rich of oil?

So did Texas.

 

[Parker99]

Are there any factories in Singapore and Hong Kong and South Korea? Mostly office work and service sector economy?

I believe Thailand is mostly service sector economy.

Yes south east Asia is more rich than the Middle East other than the oil countries.

 

[rightwinger]

As for Africa yes most of the continent is very very poor. And we simply cannot blame colonialism. That’s just a cop out. All you have to do is look at Singapore a country which was colonized by the British but gained independence in the 20th century… and is one of the most successful countries in the world today

Africa had tremendous resources…
Initially animal pelts, ivory and slaves
All of which were exploited by European Colonial powers.

Later, minerals such as gold, diamonds and oil were monopolized by corporate entities with payouts to African royalty and politicians

In both cases, very little wealth trickled down to the people

 

[Meathead]

The Middle East is far from poor. They have a rich oil industry. Now, you can say some parts are far from free, like the Dems allies in Iran, or the areas controlled by their pals Hamas.

As far as Africa, again, I think a lot of the country is rich, but again, most aren't free due to leftist tyrannical regimes.

The biggest oil deposits in the ME are in the Gulf regions. The second biggest is in Libya. Why don't Tripoli and Benghazi look like Dubai?

 

[Oddball]

The biggest oil deposits in the ME are in the Gulf regions. The second biggest is in Libya. Why don't Tripoli and Benghazi look like Dubai?

Qaddafi was turning both those cities into equals....But he was moving away from the petro dollar, so he needed to be done away with.

 

[Donald H]

Today, China uses diplomacy in Africa instead of brute force, and it does not seem to aspire to formal political control in the region. Yet, African economies are again responding to the rising demand for commodities by a rapidly industrialising power. Chinese investments in land, infrastructure and mines are flowing in. Mineral exports, and especially oil, are again taking a growing share of African exports.

Let me guess, this is just fine because they are your comrades, right?

And yes, without China turning to Capitalism, there was no way in hell they would ever have become a world economic power.

A communist country that practices socially responsible capitalism.

Capitalism within a Communist government system is proving to be the way of the future.

America only left out the 'social responsibility'.

That's the reason why Trump and fascism became acceptable to the working class..

 

[Meathead]

Africa had tremendous resources…
Initially animal pelts, ivory and slaves
All of which were exploited by European Colonial powers.

Later, minerals such as gold, diamonds and oil were monopolized by corporate entities with payouts to African royalty and politicians

In both cases, very little wealth trickled down to the people

That's kinda the point isn't it? Colonialism has nothing over corruption and very low IQ.

 

[struth]

The biggest oil deposits in the ME are in the Gulf regions. The second biggest is in Libya. Why don't Tripoli and Benghazi look like Dubai?

run by leftwing tyrantically regimes for so long

 

[Votto]

Why is Africa and the Middle East so poor?

Why did they not develop industries and factories?

I hear that Colonialism may be big factor had under Colonialism is the direct occupation and control of a region to extract resources and undermine its stability and growth.

Both regions have extremely long histories of this practice fracturing, breaking, and dismantling any mobility and upward growth. And have long history of Colonialism.

Listen kid, I know you are drowning in Marixm whether it be from government run schools or your friends indoctrinated by government run schools or the media that is owned by the Left. But learn to think for yourself without the Left doing it for you.

This story may be of benefit to you.

I knew a guy that blamed his ex-wife for all his woes. Sure, some of them were valid, but most were not. The guy was pathologic about blaming all his shortcomings on his ex-wife which meant he never was able to see his own faults that needed fixing, which meant he never improved.

Don't be that guy.

 

[Parker99]

What happen to Africa resources? Is it all gone or do they not know how to extract it?

 

[Oddball]

What happen to Africa resources? Is it all gone or do they not know how to extract it?

Most of them don't even know that they're resources.

 

[Meathead]

Qaddafi was turning both those cities into equals....But he was moving away from the petro dollar, so he needed to be done away with.

An oddly unique perspective.

 

[Oddball]

An oddly unique perspective.

It has the added benefit of being factual.

Does this look like your average run-down shithole middle eastern city?

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

Are there any factories in Singapore and Hong Kong and South Korea? Mostly office work and service sector economy?

I believe Thailand is mostly service sector economy.

Yes south east Asia is more rich than the Middle East other than the oil countries.

Singapore is a port city. It’s a basically a city country that is very prosperous. Anyway, the bottom line is colonialism is not to blame for the struggles of Africa. Other countries that have experienced colonialism and gained independence later have had plenty of success.

The “oil countries” of the Middle East include Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, The UAE And Oman…which is inclusive of a very large chunk of the Middle East. Many of these countries have started to explore ways to make money outside of the oil industry. Like Saudi Arabia with the LIV golf tour. Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup. … there’s plenty of other examples of gulf countries adding non-oil revenue to the pool.

Saudi Arabia’s revenue rises to $336bn in 2024 as non-oil income surges​

DAYAN ABOU TINE
13 February 2025

The rise in revenues was primarily fueled by a surge in non-oil income, which accounted for 40 percent of total revenues and reached SR502.47 billion, reflecting a 9.78 percent year-on-year increase. File

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590103/amp

Most of the “poor” people in the gulf states are actually workers from really poor areas of the world from India, Bangladesh or Pakistan and they are leaving those countries because the government in those countries have failed. They are making more money working in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere in the Middle East than they would in their home countries.

Enough of this blaming the outside world or the white man… it’s a tired argument it is not productive. People have been arguing like this for decades. It has done nothing to help poor countries like , Rwanda, Yemen, or the Congo…these countries need better leaders.

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

It has the added benefit of being factual.

Does this look like your average run-down shithole middle eastern city?

View attachment 1136955


View attachment 1136957

Looks better than the big blue cities in the USA