Modern African states — economic growth and social challenges
Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersWhat is a 'developmental state'?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 12 Flashcards — Modern African states — economic growth and social challenges
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
What is a 'developmental state'?
Answer
A government that directly steers investment and industry (rather than leaving it to free markets) to drive economic growth — Ethiopia under Meles Zenawi (1991–2012) is a key example.
Question
What caused Zambia's economy to stagnate despite stability under Kaunda?
Answer
Over-reliance on a single export, copper; when world copper prices collapsed in the 1970s, Zambia had no economic backup plan.
Question
What was the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)?
Answer
Africa's largest hydroelectric dam, begun in 2011, meant to power Ethiopian industry and export electricity — partly funded by bonds sold to Ethiopian citizens.
Question
How did Tunisia link economic reform to social change under Bourguiba?
Answer
The 1956 Code of Personal Status expanded women's rights (banning polygamy, allowing divorce) alongside girls' education, believing a modern economy needed educated women.
Question
What caused the 1983–85 Ethiopian famine to be so deadly (400,000–1 million deaths)?
Answer
Drought combined with the Derg regime's war strategy and forced resettlement policies, not natural causes alone.
Question
How did HIV/AIDS affect Zambia and Zimbabwe from the 1990s?
Answer
It sharply cut life expectancy (Zambia's fell into the low 40s) and reduced the skilled workforce, undermining economic growth.
Question
Why did Zimbabwe's economy collapse after 2000 despite political stability?
Answer
Fast-track land reform and uncontrolled money printing caused hyperinflation reaching billions of percent by 2008.
Question
Why couldn't Somalia develop a state-led economy after 1991?
Answer
The central government collapsed entirely after Siad Barre's fall, leaving no authority to plan infrastructure or services — private telecom and money-transfer firms filled the gap instead.
Question
Why was Niger's literacy rate especially low by the 2010s, particularly for women?
Answer
A dispersed rural population, very high population growth (over 3% a year), and limited state resources meant schools could not keep pace with need.
Question
Compare Ethiopia and Zambia's approach to economic growth.
Answer
Ethiopia used active state direction of investment (developmental state) into infrastructure like GERD; Zambia relied passively on one export commodity (copper) without diversifying, leaving it vulnerable to price shocks.
Question
What does 'demographics' mean in this context?
Answer
Patterns of population size, growth and structure — e.g. Niger's rapid population growth outpaced its ability to build schools and clinics.
Question
Was political stability enough to guarantee economic growth in these six states?
Answer
No — Zambia and Zimbabwe were both politically stable for long periods yet suffered economic stagnation or collapse, showing stability was necessary but not sufficient; policy choices mattered just as much.
Read the notes
Full study notes for Modern African states — economic growth and social challenges
Topic 10.12 hub
Modern developments in Ethiopia, Niger, Somalia, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe (c.1945–2020)
More from Topic 10.12
All flashcards in this topic
History (2028+) exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free