You will have noticed that my response to your question about the effects of colonialism did not actually lead toward a discussion of industrialization. In large part, that is because many of the most ambitious industrializing projects of colonizing nations have fallen into total and pathetic ruin. Dozens of African countries possess little used or completely destroyed railway systems, while abandoned mines and industrial complexes are not uncommon. Roads don't last long enough in Africa to remain as any sort of legacy and there was little to no investment in telecommunications infrastructure during the days of colonialism. You are more likely to see the architectural heritage of Europe than any underlying system of support—with the possible exception of some towns that were laid out in particularly organized fashion, typically by the Germans.

But are the countries of Africa industrialized?

They all have airports. They all have booming cell phone industries. They all have internet cafés popping up all over the place. Trucks have replaced camels and horses. Electricity is gradually replacing fire. Motors are slowly replacing paddles and oars. Plumbing is gradually replacing buckets and wells. Mass-produced goods are popular and easy to find. And skyscrapers, shopping malls, movie theaters, golf courses, and other Western favorites are coming into prominence.

But genuine African industry is a different story. Much of Africa is addicted to imported foreign goods, even if the very same products can be produced locally. This often prevents industry from developing on a large scale or in a technologically impressive fashion. Why would a tendency to consume imported goods prevent the development of industry? What obstacles might prevent local African industry from becoming large-scale and globally competitive?

At the moment much of the most impressive industry on the continent, in terms of technology and scale, is run by multi-national corporations that do not prioritize the well-being of their African laborers or host nations. Oil companies and mine outfits are the most notorious of these often despised and rather piratical institutions.

What criteria must a country meet for you to call it "industrialized"? At what point should we stop calling a country a "developing nation"? What sorts of industrialization are most helpful for a nation? What sorts are most harmful?



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