POLS 241 Lecture : Pols241 week 11 lec 3.docx

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Political Studies
• Course: POLS 241
• Professor: Dru Lauzon

Document Summary

Harps on question of culture (shortcomings of african culture and how it impacts democracy) Prof disagree with it (has diff argument: negative aspects. Structural problems (but every region has had to face some) But in africa they seem to be insoluble (unsolvable) But it is actually quite the opposite. A caveat: there are 51 countries in africa= different cultures, different experiences (approach issues with variations, gdp has increased in last 13-14 years (unprecedented) Growth rate= higher than growth of population. Growth accounted for by new production and exploitation of natural gas and oils= 3 and a half trillion dollar gdp. Thus, issues of governance/state become more prominent in their lives: see development of new middle class. Today the middle class represents 21% of population: earn 45% of all income in the country, south africa is getting richer. The rich (top 3% has a rising percentage of income which is rising quickly) Middle class share is declining, but slowly.