Natural Regions

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Natural Regions
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Population Distribution
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African Economic Problems

• Growing population
• Agricultural problems
• Environmental problems
• Commodity economies
• Burden of debt
• Disease
• Wars and refugees
• Corrupt regimes

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Demographic transition

• Stage 1 low growth high birth high death
  rates
• Stage 2 high growth high birth rate, reduced
  death rate because more food and medicine
• Stage 3 moderate growth birth rate begins to
  drop sharply
• Stage 4 low growth ZPG

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Demographic Transition Model
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African Population

• 2000 Africa 784 million, sub-Saharan Africa 611
  million
• 2.4 population increase1.7 yearly increase
  means population doubles in 40 years
• Over 40 population lt15

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Contrasting Population Pyramids
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Poverty

• Poorest region in world
• Lowest life expectancy (52)
• Lowest literacy rate ca. 50
• Highest rate of infant mortality
• Only region where food production per capita has
  declined
• Of 47 least developed countries, 32 in
  sub-Saharan Africa

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Agricultural Problems

• Sporadic rainfall, often poor soil
• Emphasis on cash crops
• Little attention paid to subsistence crops
• Green Revolution techniques didnt work
• Prices of subsistence crops kept low, cheap food
  imports
• Deteriorating infrastructure makes it difficult
  to move crops
• Women farmers get little support

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Environmental Problems

• Overcultivation and overgrazing degrading land
• Fallow period not long enough
• Cutting of forests altering rainfall patterns
• Deserts spreading

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Commodity Economies

• Colonial regimes emphasized cash crops and
  mineral resources that could be exported
• Continuation of policy by World Bank and IMF
• Africans cannot control price of commodities
• Rich resources but Africa doesnt have capital to
  exploit them

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Debt

• Loans taken out in 1970s continue to accrue
  interest
• Growing burden of debt
• Countries spend more on interest than on health
  care and education

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Debt as of GNP
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African Debt

• 1970-2002 Africa received 540 billion in loans
• By 2002, Africa paid back 550 billion
• 2002 Africa still owed 293 billion

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Debt Relief

• Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)program of
  World Bank and IMF provides debt relief to poor
  countries with good government committed to
  fighting corruption and poverty
• 32 African programs involved, 18 have completed
  program
• June 2005 G8 agreed to cancel debts40 billion
  for 18 countries

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Neocolonialism

• To get debt relief, countries had to agree to
  World Bank conditions
• Structural Adjustment
• Free market emphasis on exports
• Reduce subsidies on food, health care
• Reduce government spending
• Currency devaluations

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Recolonialism

• Spread of NGOs
• Controlled by Europeans and N. Americans
• Internal brain drain

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Percent of Worlds HIV Infections and Deaths from
AIDS
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HIV/AIDS

• 2003 25,000,000 cases in sub-Saharan Africa.
  12 million children orphaned
• Percentage of adult population
• South Africa 21.5
• Zambia 16.5
• Zimbabwe 24.6
• Botswana 37.3
• Urban educated elite especially hit

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Problems with Aid

• Food aid necessary in emergency but can create
  problems
• Difficult to get funds for rehabilitation
• Much of foreign aid is military
• Bigger is Better mystique

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Development

• How should Africa develop?