Feb 9, 2011 -- 9:55PM, farragut wrote:

"But I still think most of the people who are joking have no idea why the people of the Cote D'Ivoire are in the dire straits they are right now."


But of course we do. The one word answer is tribalism.  

F,

Are you ignoring history?

Sure, tribalism CONTRIBUTES to the problems.  But, you really need to look to the roots, as have been repeatedly pointed out here.

Feb 10, 2011 -- 10:17AM, writingal1 wrote:

Farragut says--
"But of course we do. The one word answer is tribalism. "




NOPE.

That's a common misconception of people--mostly Americans--who have not studied world history or the history of what happened on the contienent of Africa in the 1800s.

The answer is--

COLONIALISM.

>>>>>>> I would add neo-colonialism. Where a dictator leaders are supported as long they offer proper "Service" and they are "Let go" when the "Master" state have no need for the boot licking slave leader. Saddam Hussain of Iraq is a good example. Most African leaders would fit into this "Mantra".

Most african countries are "Technically" free states, so we can not call them colonies any more. So I would not blame America or any single state for any less developped countries. It is a coalition of "Master state" and few willing "Slave leaders" who are willing to do the dirty job to please his [ Most of the case it is male] masters.