Can it be said that Imperialism in Africa resulted in a net good?

Question

for quite a while now, I've heard how evil and terrible imperialism was. You hear many people say so, including people on both sides of the political spectrum. However, I been thinking that without the European imperialists who came to Africa and enslaved many Africans, that Africa would be without a lot of technology it has today.
While Africa is by no means, a paradise. Many Africans do have access to things like the television, cellphones and the internet. Not to mention the numerous modern things they got directly after colonialism such as techniques from the industrial revolution and other technologies. They also learned farming techniques and numerous other things that I probably don't know. 
I've even heard that some parts of Africa hadn't even invented the wheel until Europeans brought it. Of course, we all know that Europeans also brought a lot of destruction and enslaved millions. 

But if you look at the overall picture and at how the lives of many Africans were improved by European technology. Something I don't think anyone can deny. 
Can it said that European imperialism resulted in a net good for the people of Africa?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

That's a stretch. I would compare the effects of imperialism on African natives to the effects of European colonization of the Americas effect on native/indigenous populations there . Overall more harm than good was accomplished.

Anonymous · Answer

Well, history has resulted in a net good. Across the world, people are better off due to advances in technology. The question is not "Is Africa better off than it used to be?", a question which could be answered with "yes" for most places, but rather "would Africa have been better off if things had gone differently?"

Who's to say Africa might not have developed to be more stable without imperialism? Trying to predict alternate history is very doubtful business. We can really only know what actually did happen.

Anonymous · Answer

Honestly, I don't know whats wrong with Africa.

Apparently, you DO need white people to rule society.

Exhibit A: South Africa and Egypt

Probably the best countries on the African continent, both under white rule (british and dutch, respectively.)

amorello · Answer

sure and no. The colonial journey delivered in western mindsets and agencies, and grew cities the place it became as quickly as purely rural. the place the undertaking lies is that there became no transition era. The Europeans in simple terms left without guidance the persons they left in the back of a thank you to compete in a western worldwide. in lots of situations they have been in simple terms instructed to circulate away as quickly as the international locations gained independence, it relatively is honest sufficient, yet they left in the back of a vacuum of means struggles that are nonetheless happening in the present day.

? · Answer

Should have left Africa in the dark. Arabs should have, Persians shldhave, Europeans should have.

It would be alright to observe. But other than that, should have left it alone.

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Can it be said that Imperialism in Africa resulted in a net good?

5 Answers