Western Interventions in African Countries Analytical Essay
Western Interventions in African Countries
An examination of the literature on the legacy of Western intervention in African countries.
# 154232
| 1,770 words
| 4 sources
| 2014
| 
Published
on Oct 06, 2015
in
Anthropology
(African)
, History
(African)
, Religion and Theology
(Other)
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From the Paper:
"History told from a single perspective, which has historically been a White, male, European perspective, offers an account of reality that disregards the feelings, struggles, beliefs and experiences of those who are not given space to tell their side of the story. Those masses with untold realities become mere characters in a lopsided chronological narrative, rather than human beings that actively experienced having acts perpetrated against them and who, in return, had rational and justified responses. Perhaps the most comprehensive term one could utilize to explain this blatant disregard for the humanity of others is, 'anthropological poverty.' Coined by Cameroonian theologian Englebert Mveng, it is defined as "despoiling human beings not only of what they have, but of everything that constitutes their being and essence--their identity, history, ethnic roots, language, culture, faith, creativity, dignity, pride, ambitions, right to speak" (Diakite, 5)"It is anthropological poverty which gives explanation to the impact of many Western interventions in African countries, both well intentioned and malicious. To impose the ideals and belief systems of one culture upon another, regardless of intent, can distort one's understanding of existence within these indigenous cultures; for those cultures dominant enough to impose their mores on others, gain the opportunity to pathologize the ways of being promoted within the indigenous societies they have overtaken, and subsequently construct new knowledge about these cultures whether it be true or not. The dominance of the West has allowed for an exportation of knowledge which established a limited concept of what it means to be civilized, and even further human; glorifying principles of domination, violence, power through the submission of others and un-thwarted economic gain."
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Western Interventions in African Countries (2015, October 06)
Retrieved September 28, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/western-interventions-in-african-countries-154232/
MLA Format
"Western Interventions in African Countries" 06 October 2015.
Web. 28 September. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/western-interventions-in-african-countries-154232/>