2026 Reading Challenge
How Europe Underdeveloped Africa

Questions About How Europe Underdeveloped Africa

by Walter Rodney

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Answered Questions (2)

how does Walter Rodney define development?
Alexandra "Development in human society is a many-sided process. At the level of the individual, it implies increased skill and capacity, grater freedom creativ…more"Development in human society is a many-sided process. At the level of the individual, it implies increased skill and capacity, grater freedom creativity, self-discipline, responsibility and material well-being." -Walter Rodney(less)
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Does this book give a multi-sided view? Or is everything wrong in Africa today caused by Europeans according to this book?
Nicole Miles I’d say the book is fair. Colonialism has been (and largely continues to be) very extractive of African wealth, but Rodney does not say this is an exc…moreI’d say the book is fair. Colonialism has been (and largely continues to be) very extractive of African wealth, but Rodney does not say this is an excuse for Africans not to also do work and take responsibility for their development. He is largely just dispelling pro-colonial myths with historical evidence (sometimes even using accounts from white Europeans admitting their countries’ huge dependence on the colonies or their hypocrisies). The “multi-sided view” of “but colonialism was good for Africa too!” is properly addressed (spoiler: it really, really, really was not good for Africa. It was a net negative and there are a ton of stats across all metrics that expose that).(less)
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