Is it plausible to create the United States of Africa, uniting all African countries under one flag and constitution?
Abstract
The economic, social and political advancement of Africa demands the end of colonialism and its domination in Africa. Many a leaders of Africa think that neither irregular act, nor devout resolution can solve the issues of African countries except a united act. With more than 40% of energy and power and more than 60% of gold and other natural resources, Africa lags behind developed countries in the race of growth and advancement. The African countries separately have not been able to manage their resources, whether they were human capital or natural resources. With a continent so rich in resources and low on GDP, provides a reason to African countries to unite under one constitution for betterment of the continent, as it is high time to raise the standards of living similar to rest of the world. This essay analyzes the plausible causes for unification of African countries under one flag.
Is it plausible to create the United States of Africa, uniting all African countries under one flag and constitution?
Nationalism factually points towards the desire or the affection for one’s nation. In Africa the word nationalism has been used to indicate the brawl of independence or self-determination counter to foreign dominion. Fundamentally, nationalism is the dogmatic will of the people of Africa in antagonism to foreign command, but in favor of African canon. It embodies African struggles in contrary to Western expansionism and colonialism. The question whether it is plausible to unite African countries under one constitution and one flag has answer in yes, it is justifiable to assemble them under one canon, and it is the need of the hour. Following are the reasons to support the stance.
Political grievances are the main driving forces behind Africa’s backwardness. The continent full of human capital, cheapest of all in the world, stands nowhere. If Africa wants to gain its status and internal stability, it needs to regain its independence that has been controlled by foreign colonists since long. With advent of foreign invasion, African rulers were thrown away and foreign culture was implemented. Internal and external political unrest and instability can be only addressed if African countries join their hands, as Muammar Gaddafi (2010) said, “African unity government is the only way Africa can progress minus Western intrusion, and it will be like United States of America, one day.”
Economic grievances also make it justifiable to unite under one flag to solve the issues of Africa related to economy. For years Africans were subjected to forced and cheap labor to work on colonial plants along nuisance of substantial taxes. One reason why Africa didn’t flourish despite of human capital is that the colonists always kept them alienated from their land and agriculture. If they get under one constitution it will automatically solve half of the issues related to economy of the continent. This rift will help the most under developed countries of the Africa to join the pace of progressing countries of Africa. Their cooperation will bring mutual growth.
Social grievances can only be removed when all the 54 states of Africa join together to eradicate social problems. If they discriminate between themselves, the world will not halt discriminating blacks. Even today, Africans due to their skin color are treated as third grade citizens, and have been stereotyped as dumb, foolish and dullish who cannot be given high posts. Colonial unfairness and tyranny has been ruling them since pre 1945. Rigorous exploitation of their culture has been done. A society only survives when its culture survives. In order to get people to accept their culture, Africans need work together under one flag to tell their importance to the world.
A country struggles for its rights and independence when people in general and ruling elite in particular has the sense of Nationalism. Nationalism assembles people from different areas under one flag for welfare of country. Africa needs that sense of Nationalism to address its economic, social, political and cultural grumbles. It is plausible to join African countries under one constitution to make them more powerful. In order to fight foreign meddling, they need to stand upon one constitution that is feasible for all the 54 states. To fight external interference, internal cohesion is essential, which occurs when all come under one flag to support one cause and stand against enemy.
References
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can-build-united-states-of-africa-gaddafi-says-idUSTRE66Q70620100727
