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Quote by: Nono  What Keith says is very true, but doesn't get us anywhere. No kidding we all have cultural biases, and no kidding "good" and "bad" aren't surgically precise terms. |
Of course it doesn't get us anywhere. Which was my entire point. It's not possible to get anywhere with such an analysis. There is no universal better or worse because there is no single, consistent outcome from colonization. Even if there were, the examples given in the OP don't tell us what is better or what is worse. Sure, there's a lot of poverty in rural China compared to urban China, but, is that better or worse? From our myopic point of view, it's worse to be poor. But, is that the real answer? A lot of Americans, even, would like to get away from the "rat-race" and have a bucolic, pastoral life. Many would even trade longevity for such a life. Does that make them wrong?
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Quote by: Nono One consideration is that national boundaries are invariably dictated by colonial boundaries, which for a hell of a lot of countries (especially in Africa) is part of the problem. |
And, this is a valid point. Even more to the point would be the Middle East, and Iraq and Isreal in particular. It's probably possible to state that colonization had a negative effect in such cases. But, this only applies if tribal ties remain strong and this redrawing of boundaries stays fresh in the memories of those affected. Does this mean that such is a negative effect of colonization or is this a negative effect of tribalism? Is nationalism, in opposition to tribalism, the ultimate problem?
Sure, we can look at individual instances and point to good and bad outcomes, but we're still biased by our own view. There are always opposing values and some good things in one value system might be a bad thing in another.
All in all, however, I do have to say that only by allowing people to live as free as possible from external interference, even by their own governments and neighbors, let alone from imposition of outside controls, can we all hope to realize the greatest return based on our own value systems. My government can NEVER understand everything that is important to me to allow me to maximize my own happiness. Another countries government damn well doesn't stand a chance.
Keith