Divide and rule
From Martyn Marriott Sir: Rod Liddle (‘The politics of Pleasantville’, 21 January) chooses a poor example of political correctness in stating that Africa’s problems are really down to bad governance, not the legacy of imperialism.
Bad governance there is, but the reasons for it lie in the imperial past. The main one is the hasty imposition by departing colonialists of Westminstertype systems of government quite unsuited to countries with high levels of illiteracy and deep tribal differences. This built on the absurdity of borders drawn on a map by foreign powers without regard for local realities, and on the efforts to divide and rule by breaking down traditional forms of government.
Also, Africa suffered from the ruthless exploitation of its natural resources in the age of finders keepers, not to mention the little matter of the slave trade.
Finally, not all colonial powers did as much as we British to organise, educate and take care of their subjects (viz. the post-colonial situation in countries like Angola and the DRC).
Martyn Marriott Freetown, Sierra Leone
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