A View of Two Worlds: Why Some Countries Prosper While Others Face Poverty
This 9-page graduate paper considers why certain civilizations, states and societies and succeeded and why others have not, and concludes that colonialism, stereotyping, population growth, geography, education, foreign intervention, and agriculture tend to work in favour of already-wealthy countries while impoverishing developing countries. Colonialism has created a set of economic and psychological legacies which continue to naturalize some states as leaders and other states as “natural” and “child-like” dependants. Agricultural dependancy in the developing world and agricultural technology in developed nations ensure that developing nations are more vulnerable to climate change and shifts in the market. Geography tends to work for developed nations and against developing states, as well, as temperate-climate nations use their impressive research and development funds to create products and technology that largely ignores the needs of those in tropical climates. Since developed nations have decent living conditions currently, changes in population tend to benefit them, while poorer nations find their economies and resources strained by sudden demographic shifts. Some scholars contend that inherent state weaknesses or strengths - especially state willingness to control violence and provide education - contributes to the poverty or affluence of a nation.
