Worswick:
You didn't mention almost all of Africa which, IMO, must un-do the boundaries pencilled in by the colonial powers before any lasting progress can be made.
We have ethnic groups divided between different countries, and countries divided between ethnic groups. The factions within a country argue among themselves, and align with their ethnic brethren across borders. Latest example is Rwanda/Congo, but there are many.
Still today, the former colonialists support the boundaries they drew through aid and weapons. But as the sense of connection and responsibility fades the support will be withdrawn and civil war and famine will overtake the continent before a new era can begin.
I think so anyway, but I hope not. I do think that the longer view of history is useful, except that it takes a long time for predictions to unfold. We are still moving out of the colonial era, and the new one has yet to begin.
One hope I do have is that the one-world movement, brought on by electronic communications, will diminish the power of ethnicity among each successive generation.
Peter |
