Political Independence In Sub-Saharan Africa

The process of economic independence does not occur concurrently with the process of political independence. When a former colonial possession achieves political independence, their economy is still engaged in a colonial economic system; this is apparent nowhere more so than in sub-Saharan Africa. The ability for the new state to transition from the colonial system to the current global capitalist system is a process of establishing institutions within the state to foster domestic growth and create economic sustainability for the state. Independence politically occurs with the sweep of a pen and a handshake at a ceremony. Most of these occurred for sub-Saharan Africa during the 1950s and 60s.
Dambisa Moyo, William Easterly and Paul Collier
Only then will Africa be able to begin the process of transition from colonial possession to stable world state.
Problems challenging Sub-Saharan Africa’s political life are numerous, and some of them are cultural in the sense that they are related to cherished practices inherited from indigenous cultures. It could be argued that such problems do not only result from the imposition of European colonial rule with its concomitant introduction of European cultural values and institutions. Rather, some of the problems are related to the capacity to grapple with the changing conditions of life, especially the challenge to integrate Sub-Saharan Africa’s ethnic identities into the structure of
Statesmen and women prove themselves by lifting the eyes of their people from petty or parochial interests to the far horizon of global and future interests. They are able to coalesce around shared values and principles a common political will and project. Those who make their mark in history are visionaries with their feet on the ground. After extensively studying charismatic political leaders in cultures and societies all over the world, Max Weber, German sociologist and himself a leader of political opinion, concluded that conviction and motivation were not enough. Particularly in modern times, political leaders have to take responsibility not only for their decisions but also for the consequences, even if these contradict or defeat the initial purpose. Weber reminds us that in politics, responsibility has less to do with motives than with consequences. Ethics in politics should therefore dovetail conviction and