Belgian colonialism in the Congo Basin has often been cited as an extreme case of how a narrow minded focus in the extraction of resources by a colonial power can have dramatic negative consequences on local populations and result in a lack of infrastructure and stable governance. During the period of 1908 to 1960 Belgian powers sought to control the rich resources of the Congo Basin. Through widespread fear tactics and suppression of the local populace the Belgians enslaved locals to work extracting rubber and other valuable resources across the territory. Utilizing centralized leadership and allowing little to no power delegated to locals the Belgians reaped the economic benefits of the region and left little in return for those who had made
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However, in spite of these promising developments in terms of growth and increasing investment in the country by both domestic and foreign actor in recent years, the poverty rate of the nation remains at an alarming rate of 63.6% in 2012. The prevalence of poverty coupled with an average life expectancy of 59 years of age and the proliferation of HIV/AIDS has had a devastating impact on the region. While the relationship (if there is any) between HIV/AIDS and colonial legacies is certainly beyond the scope of this paper, in the aftermath of Belgian colonial rule issues such as poverty and a “shortage of skilled labor” created innumerable difficulties. For years following the end of colonial rule foreign trade and revenue from exporting goods remained in the hands of elite actors. While consumption of goods by native populations began to increase in the 20th century, it still remained well below that of other developing nations. Additionally, according to a paper by J. Huge entitled “Economic Planning and Development in the Belgian Congo” economic development in the Congo was in large part predicated on the ability of the nation to create a skilled labor force in the years following the end of Belgian
However, in spite of these promising developments in terms of growth and increasing investment in the country by both domestic and foreign actor in recent years, the poverty rate of the nation remains at an alarming rate of 63.6% in 2012. The prevalence of poverty coupled with an average life expectancy of 59 years of age and the proliferation of HIV/AIDS has had a devastating impact on the region. While the relationship (if there is any) between HIV/AIDS and colonial legacies is certainly beyond the scope of this paper, in the aftermath of Belgian colonial rule issues such as poverty and a “shortage of skilled labor” created innumerable difficulties. For years following the end of colonial rule foreign trade and revenue from exporting goods remained in the hands of elite actors. While consumption of goods by native populations began to increase in the 20th century, it still remained well below that of other developing nations. Additionally, according to a paper by J. Huge entitled “Economic Planning and Development in the Belgian Congo” economic development in the Congo was in large part predicated on the ability of the nation to create a skilled labor force in the years following the end of Belgian