Europe and Africa

[So rightwing that I broke the Political Compass!]

Firstly I observe that, if European states hadn't seized up Africa, much of it would probably have been seized up by a coalition of corporations and slavers instead. We got a prelude of what that looks like with the Congo company and the Saharan/East African slaver states... I have no doubt that most uncolonized African land would have ended up slaver/corporation territory instead, because most of Africa lacked state or social institutions capable of resisting them. And I feel certain that such slaver/corporate governments would be even worse then colonial/post-colonial regimes.

Secondly I observe that Ethiopia, which was never colonized, is one of the sh**ttiest states in Africa. It was briefly occupied as Italy, but I don't see that as long enough to constitute true colonialism, especially since the Italians did less damage then the Germans/Japanese did in much of the territory that they occupied. Hell the Italians unintentionally knocked off slavery and made it easier for the Ethiopian emperor to launch progressive reforms upon his return to power, so a case might be made that Italian occupation rendered Ethiopia better off.

Thirdly I observe that other comparatively "natural" states in Africa- Somalia and Swaziland being the clearest examples- are doing badly even by the standards of Africa as well.

Fourthly I observe that the population has boomed since European colonialism. That is not because Africa's birthrate has increased(they didn't have birth control prior to Europeans, whereas now they do)... it is because the carrying capacity of Africa has increased due to European agriculture and imports, and because life expectancy has increased due to Euro technology and medicine. Think about that.... it's not that the birthrate increased, its that more Africans lived long enough to have their own kids.

So I'm on the fence on whether to call colonialism a good thing or not. Phrase it as "less awful then the alternative", and I'll go with that.

[So rightwing that I broke the Political Compass!]

Firstly I observe that, if European states hadn't seized up Africa, much of it would probably have been seized up by a coalition of corporations and slavers instead. We got a prelude of what that looks like with the Congo company and the Saharan/East African slaver states... I have no doubt that most uncolonized African land would have ended up slaver/corporation territory instead, because most of Africa lacked state or social institutions capable of resisting them. And I feel certain that such slaver/corporate governments would be even worse then colonial/post-colonial regimes.

Secondly I observe that Ethiopia, which was never colonized, is one of the sh**ttiest states in Africa. It was briefly occupied as Italy, but I don't see that as long enough to constitute true colonialism, especially since the Italians did less damage then the Germans/Japanese did in much of the territory that they occupied. Hell the Italians unintentionally knocked off slavery and made it easier for the Ethiopian emperor to launch progressive reforms upon his return to power, so a case might be made that Italian occupation rendered Ethiopia better off.

Thirdly I observe that other comparatively "natural" states in Africa- Somalia and Swaziland being the clearest examples- are doing badly even by the standards of Africa as well.

Fourthly I observe that the population has boomed since European colonialism. That is not because Africa's birthrate has increased(they didn't have birth control prior to Europeans, whereas now they do)... it is because the carrying capacity of Africa has increased due to European agriculture and imports, and because life expectancy has increased due to Euro technology and medicine. Think about that.... it's not that the birthrate increased, its that more Africans lived long enough to have their own kids.

So I'm on the fence on whether to call colonialism a good thing or not. Phrase it as "less awful then the alternative", and I'll go with that.

First of those is more or less what happened anyway... What else was Rhodesia?

You are honestly suggesting Rhodesia is comparable to the "Congo Free State" and various slaver states? Ever read Heart of Darkness? Ever read up on the Saharan/East African slave trade?