The answer seems to be recognizing that if a society wants a certain level of prosperity and security it has to follow certain models. It is what it is.
And if it doesn’t want that, then it is free to take another course and (from the Western point of view) suffer the consequences. Of course, a tribe, for example, may not view its state of affairs as “suffering” at all, but as just how life is and part of the way their community is.
IOW, maybe we need to start asking why are we, the West, even worrying about whether Africans “change”? Might we instead be “imposing” our image of success upon them without warrant?
If, having been offered over and over again the opportunity to find ways out of the bush and the tribal ways, people choose their tribe and their way of life, regardless that it looks horrible to outsiders, who are we to sit around asking why?
Is this not valid, too?
Thats a good point. I think what bothers some people is the fact that while they reject our lifestyle and culture, they still ask for, if not outright demand, our help. They can't have it both ways.