Abstract This paper, written as a prospectus for investors, studies the country of Angola. The paper is structured on the STEEP Analysis model, which analyzes a country's sociological, technical, economic, environmental and political characteristics. The paper focuses in particular on the economic significance of Angola being a major oil provider -- both on the country's current stability and on its future prospects.
From the Paper "Angola is a country about twice the size of Texas, located on the west coast of southern Africa. Its principal neighbors are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zaire, Zambia and Namibia. As the second largest oil producer in Africa..."
Tags:angola, economy, oil, civil, war, sociology, politics
Abstract This paper, written by a native of Angola, describes the violent, strife-ridden, and tumultuous past of Angola and the impact this has had on the country's present affairs and conditions. The paper describes the early history of Angola before Portuguese rule, its culture, beliefs, and practices. It then looks at how Portugal, upon assuming leadership of the country, destroyed the culture, traditions, and peoples of Angola, and how this rule, while ended, still affects Angola today.
From the Paper "It pains me to talk about our situation here in Angola. During my entire young life, I have seen nothing but internal strife. Although Portugal is now out of our country, there is still unrest. I truly believe that things would have been much different if the Portuguese (and other Western countries) had not taken over and plundered our country. Portugal treated our people of Angola with contempt and indifference for five centuries of colonization. From as early as the 1400s to the 20th century, the Africans under the Portuguese rule only knew of slavery, hunger and bloodshed."
Abstract This paper explains that, although both nations have French-speaking elements to their cultural and history for geographical and colonial reasons, the cultural elements and characteristics of the African nation of Angola and the European nation of Belgium are more striking in their differences than in their similarities. The author points out that Angola is still unstable and unsuitable for travel; whereas, Belgium is a European nation primarily known for its relative state of peace and ability to attract tourism and foreign investment. The paper relates that both nations are remarkable for their existence within the crossroads of a multi-ethnic and complex political struggle for dominance, one on the European continent and the other on the African continent.
From the Paper "Angola similarly was torn, as ?the end of hostilities is just the first step in Angola's journey of a thousand miles. War leaves scars: millions of displaced, homeless, maimed, orphaned, starving and diseased Angolans. This means no infrastructure, poor roads, crime, graft, up to eleven million landmines - and a glimmer of hope.? Unlike the recent history of Belgium, however, the damage that diversity has caused to the infrastructure of Angola has been physical rather than ideological. The nation is so marked by civil war, its damaged internal infrastructure of shipping and transportation perhaps the most striking feature that must be addressed to rebuild the nation."
Abstract This report focuses on the African nation of Angola and some possible financial solutions to the constant health care threat from AIDS. The paper looks at how Angola's opportunity for social and economic development is contingent upon the need to, first, focus on the AIDS crisis there, its prevention, its care, and its treatment.
From the Paper "The situation in Angola is critical according to the United Nations. ?It said that in addition to the problems caused by recent displacement, the country faced a structural emergency that was characterized by a breakdown in social services that jeopardized the health and education of vulnerable groups, particularly children.? (Weekly Round Up) Although the Angolan war and a lack of mobility continues to help the nation avert the AIDS epidemic other African populations are facing. However, because of the fact that the Sub-Saharan Africa's leading cause of death is HIV/AIDS, a sound educational program should be instituted as soon as possible to help educate the nation's people just how serious the problem they are facing really is. Some recent studies have shown that approximately eight percent of Angolans are already HIV positive."
Abstract This paper takes a descriptive look at the difference between weak, failed and collapsed states, naming the theories behind each occurrence. It then goes on to do a comparative case study of two states, namely Angola and Sierra Leone. With a closer look at both Angola and Sierra Leone, the paper concludes that greed and the presence of potential wealth (i.e. natural resources) can truly turn a country upside down. It looks at how both governments used their positions for greed, power and personal gain, and how both almost collapsed in the process.
Outline:
Failed State
Collapsed State
Case Study: Two Failed States; How do they Compare?
From the Paper "Failed states are also caused by increases in criminal violence, oppression of citizens and lawlessness in the eyes of citizens. This relates directly to the concept of legitimacy loss, where citizens are forced to turn to drug lords or illegitimate means in order to satisfy their basic needs, like food, shelter, security, etc...Failed states have flawed institutions and deteriorating infrastructure (potholes, drinking water, power supply). According to Rotberg, an indicator and not a cause of failed states is the decline in per capita GDP due to increased income disparity (Rotberg 2003: pp.10). Sierra Leone is an example of a failed state, however details will be further discussed in the case study section of this essay, along with Angola. "
Abstract An evaluation of Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon's foreign policy during the Angolan civil war. The author discusses the events that led up to American involvement in Angola as well as the results of her involvement.
From the Paper "By the spring of 1974, Henry Kissinger's new world order strategy was falling apart. As put forth in lecture, the collapse of the Portuguese colonial empire would give Kissinger an opportunity to salvage his strategy. As the Portuguese government debated between complete independence and a type of dominion status for its colonies, three political major groups, all with armed forces in the field, vied for control in Angola. The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) was led by Augustinho Neto and weakly supported by the Soviet Union. The National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), led by Holden Roberto, was nominally supported by the United States, and National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita), led by Jonas Savimbi, was supported by South Africa."
Abstract This paper examines how from the 1950s until the 1970s, Angola had experienced great internal turmoil as its native population strived to liberate itself from historic Portuguese colonial powers. It also looks at how did South Africa showed great strife in the years following WWII as its overwhelming and overwhelmed black majority and their sympathizers attempted to gain freedom from the ruling white National Party and Apartheid. The paper looks at three key developments in the liberation of each southern African nation: mass mobilization, diplomatic activity, and armed struggle.
From the Paper "In 1985, the Security Council of the United Nations vehemently came out in retaliation of South Africa's invasion of Angola. The UN Chronicle from September 1 of that year notes that the Council not only condemned South Africa for its actions, but also demanded that South Africa "unconditionally" withdraw forthwith all its "occupation forces" from Angola, cease all acts of aggression against that country, and scrupulously respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Angola was, it stated, entitled to "appropriate redress and compensation for any material damage it has suffered." ("Security Council Condemns South Africa for 'Premeditated, Sustained Invasions' of Angola") Yet this development and international condemnation was not the first time that these nations came to the world's attention because of political unrest. "
Abstract The paper begins by tracing the origin and development of colonialism throughout Africa. It continues with a colonial history of Chad. Following this historical outline, the paper explores the effects of colonialism on this African country. The paper follows this form (of giving a historical outline and then exploring the effects of colonialism on the country) when discussing Nigeria and Angola. The paper also includes a comparison of the three countries in terms of the political, economic and national consequences of colonialism.
From the Paper "Colonialism by stronger nations has been a part of history for thousands of years. The Romans practiced colonialism in ancient times, and the practice was exceedingly common in the 19th century. European nations tried to add to their power and prestige by adding to their cache of land, especially in Africa, where countries were ripe for the taking. "This colonial frenzy in the last twenty years of the nineteenth century saw all but 10 percent of the African continent colonized in a complex mix of political, economic, strategic, cultural, and religious rationales" (Wright 13)."
This paper discusses that throughout Western Africa the quest for diamonds has caused civil wars and affected the stability of many governments and their economies.
Abstract The paper discusses the battles over diamonds in the Western Africa nations especially the civil wars in Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The paper points out that many African countries especially Botswana, the world's largest diamond producer, have avoided the diamond wars and developed a prosperous economy fuelled by diamonds. The author states that world governments and organizations, diamond traders, financial institutions, arms manufacturers, social and educational institutions, human rights groups and celebrities are combining their efforts to demand the strict enforcement of sanctions and encourage peace in Africa.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Competing for Diamonds
Would-Be Success of Diamond Countries
Fighting the Rebels
Conclusion
From the Paper "National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), a rebel group, has been in constant conflict with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola ( MPLA) for about twenty years. These two groups have created a civil war in Angola as both groups fight for control of the country. As a result, the country is covered in land mines that kill many innocent people on a daily basis. Still UNITA refuses to relinquish diamond mines to the MPLA government and the country remains in a dangerous civil war."
Abstract This paper examines the health care system of Brazil and compares it to those of the U.S.A., Portugal and Angola, (in effect comparing the health system of a developing country to that of developed countries and the Third World). The paper looks at the problems each country is forced to contend with, including AIDS, malaria and cancer. Statistics are provided.
From the Paper "Portugal, a European country with a population approximately equal to that of Angola, is a totally different case. Portugal is second only to the US in its governmental funding of health care. Due to the high literacy rate and good public education, the country has done a lot to prevent AIDS. Health care is number one priority of the Portuguese government, and the country has probably the best free health care in the world. Although smoking and heart disease are major problems in Portugal, and in Europe as a whole, they will not be discussed in this essay because they are not infectious diseases of any kind."
Abstract This paper concerns itself with applying Thomas H. Green's taxonomy of revolution leadership, "Comparative Revolutionary Movements" to two cases in a comparative manner: the enigmatic personas of Samora Machel and Sam Nujoma. The author provides extensive background information on the revolutions and revolutionaries in question. The paper discusses how Green sets out an analytical framework for comparing revolutions based on the comparison of leadership, support, ideology, organization, techniques and external support.
From the Paper:
"Revolution has pervaded the landscape of modern African history with a plethora of different examples. To be sure, from Algeria to Guinea Bissau, Angola to Mozambique and Zimbabwe to Namibia, Africa has seen her fair share of transformation-orientated uprising. Each of the myriad of African revolutions has their own story to tell regarding causes, characteristics and outcomes. This paper concerns itself with the characteristics of revolution. To be specific, the leaderships aspects of revolution. Now, African history is colored with many great revolutionaries: Hendrik Witbooi, Joshua Nkomo, Robert Mugabe, Jonas Savimbi, Ben Bella, john Chilembwe and Bambatha all invoke in their own right memories of the some of the greatest African leaders of our time and that of the generations before us. It is important to understand the socio-psychology of this very unique type of leadership. To this end, we can employ the criterion of Thomas H Green, developed in his seminal work "Comparative Revolutionary Movements."
Abstract This paper examines how Angola is an interesting nation with complex cultural issues and how, in comparison with the cultural climate found in North America, there exist many similarities, as well as differences. It looks at how the complexity of Angolan culture is largely due to its large ethnic and linguistic diversity within a relatively small country and how, by comparing cultural traits specifically related to art, music, language, and linguistic environments, religious and social structure, as well as racial and political characterizes and trends, interesting insights can be gained. It also shows how, by comparing these cultural characteristics with those found in North America, the individual can gain a greater insight into Angolan culture as a whole.
From the Paper "Within the boundless field of cultural anthropology, the cross-cultural comparison is a staple of classroom discourse. This is simply because one of the best ways in which to become aware of cultural differences and nuance (indeed, many would say the only way), is through the comparison of another culture with one's own. With regard to the extremely complex cultural landscape of the African nation of Angola, one can see that specific cultural traits not only differ from those found in the United States, but, in other instances, are strikingly similar. Indeed, these similarities and differences can be noted in the areas of art and music, language and linguistic practice, religious and social structure, as well as racial and political characteristics and trends."
Abstract This paper argues that the United Nations has not responded to humanitarian crisis and conflicts like Rwanda in an efficient and effective way. The UN has failed not only because of its inherent weakness and poverty of means and resources, but also because of the fundamental flaw in its post-Cold War peacemaking approach.
From the Paper "Although Clapham's claims contain some truth his article has a methodological weakness. It is flawed because it takes a very narrow view of UN peacekeeping and peacekeeping models. Clapham, for example, argues that the UN has only used one peacekeeping model during the post-Cold War period and insists on examining the United Nations' role in the ethnic conflict in Rwanda through that model. However, the point is that this model does not apply to Rwanda because the United Nations never used it in that country. His methodology provides insufficient explanation for why the Rwanda conflict was not prevented or contained, because it is based on the argument that the United Nations had intervened in Rwanda while it had not."
Abstract This paper addresses the significance of debt with reference to three African countries namely, Angola, Benin and Liberia. It suggests possible ways in which these countries can solve their debt problems, including restructuring of debts.
Tags: debt, debt crisis, sub saharan africa, default, world bank, debt repayment, economic reform, dictatorships, socialist, civil war
Abstract The paper examines the Abrigo Centre for Victims of Family Violence, Dufferin Street, Toronto. This is part of Family Services for the Portuguese-speaking Canadians. Clients include those from Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique. The paper introduces the cultural forces that create domestic violence and examines the community based approaches to this issue. The paper looks at the origins of the centre, its funding, programming and the rationales behind it.
From the Paper "The Abrigo Centre was established after a 1987 Ministry of Community and Social Services-funded study conducted by the Portuguese Interagency Network, expressed the need for services supporting abused Portuguese-speaking women in Toronto. Early funding arrived from an Abrigo Centre Christmas Drive, federal Charitable Status, and in 1993, member agency status in the United Way. Partnerships with St. Mary's Secondary School, the Multilingual Access to Social Assistance Program, and collaborations with Chinese Family Life, COSTI, and the Family Service Association of Toronto."
