[ClearCase_guy]

History of Africa in a nutshell:

-- 1850 or so: Tribal warfare, primitive conditions, lack of civilization.
1850 - 1950: European colonialism, schools, hospitals, roads, railroads, modern governments. Some abuses, sure (it's Africa) but civilization made an appearance.
1950 - 2000: End of colonialism, return of Tribal warfare, primitive conditions, lack of civilization.
2000 - 2012: Colonialism returns through Chinese intervention. Return of schools, hospitals, roads, railroads, modern governments.

The only time Africa makes progress is when non-Africans start caling the shots.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

“...Western ideology...”

Like private property ?

[PapaBear3625]

2000 - 2012: Colonialism returns through Chinese intervention. Return of schools, hospitals, roads, railroads, modern governments.

Western colonialism had at least a veneer of Christian altruism, wanting to improve conditions for Africans. Chinese colonialism does not have even that veneer.

At the moment, the Chinese are playing nice. At the point where Africans decide to try to expropriate Chinese property, the Chinese will decide to stop playing nice. China needs Africa's resource. China has little need for the Africans. China has lots of peasants that could come over and do the work, and do it better than the Africans, especially in the more temperate regions of southern Africa.

[An American!]

Good summary...
Major investments from international community including China because...A whole continent of natural resources that have not been exploited in the modern era. Mining is going crazy over there.

[achilles2000]

Yes, but in the end “Africa” wins. The Chinese will have their hands full, even though they are very ruthless. The Africans will discover quickly that the Chinese are a very different group from the Europeans who were trying, on the whole, to uplift the world’s most backward continent.

[hampdenkid]

You have absolutely nailed it. My brother did a major film shoot for a top charity org some years back in Africa. He said that every time he commented on a beautiful building, a modern road, or anything else that showed industry and accomplishment, the response would invariably be, “Oh, that was built when the French (English, Belgians, etc) were here.”

What is it about so many Africans (there and here) that they seem so incapable of giving credit or taking blame?

[fella]

Perhaps this guy is right;