Globalization from my African corner

Abstract

Globalization as a phenomenon affecting Africa could be said to have become prominent in the early 1990s through to the 2000s. It manifested itself in the political, economic, social, cultural, communications and media sphere in a number of ways. These various ways seemed to connect it or align its development with that of northern industrialized societies that follow liberal representative or social democratic systems of government, with market economies regulated in various ways.Globalization also came after several decades of African independence from colonial control and domination. After the independence wave that began in the late 1950s, the continent's politics were soon dominated by dictatorial regimes of various types. These included military-led governments which were the result of coups, and in some case multiple coups, against civilian rule. Another variety was the one-party state, characterized by leaders who ruled for anything up to three decades after independence. Others were regimes that carried out regular elections which were always won by one party: no opposition ever came close to winning. Even in the countries which seemed to be shining beacons of democracy in a sea of dictatorship and venal rule, elections were not necessarily free or fair or a genuine expression of the will of the people.Globalization came also when Africa's economies were on their knees. A combination of endogenous and exogenous factors contributed to this situation. Economic policies were ostensibly designed to redress colonial exclusion and inequalities but in reality they were hobbled by poor design and/or implementation, coupled with corruption and maladministration. Skewed economic relations with northern industrialized economies, included, among other things, the effects of colonial economic umbilical cords and unfair trade policies and practices. This toxic mix of factors resulted in an inability to deliver

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