Why has Ireland acheived so much after gaining independence from the uk while many African countries have not?

Question

Some of those answers dont make sense,Ireland suffered a famine in the 1840's which killed one third of the popualtion and is now pretty much accepted to be as a result of British policies in Ireland at the time,Ireland got worse after it joined the EU in the 1970's with the 80's being the worst period!

Answer 1

It's corruption. Some countries did a good job, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and grew powerful under free rule. However both of these countries have collapsed in recent years under new leaders. Most of the countries in Africa are extremely rich, Nigeria with it's oil, Zimbabwe with it's farming, south Africa with it's gold and gems..

Thomas G, stop making stupid comments. Northern Ireland has always refused to leave the UK and join southern Ireland. 1922, during the creation of the free Irish state, the voted to rejoin the UK. In the 90's again they voted not to join the Irish Republic and remain part of the UK. Since most people want to remain in the UK why do people like you keep telling them that they should join.

Answer 2

Because unlike Ireland, the African continent is rich is natural resources (gold, diamonds, OIL).  That type of wealth leads not only to internal corruption but also a great deal of problems caused by the outside influence of nations with different agendas.

Answer 3

One thing. Corupt governments. It's that simple.

Answer 4

You're comparing apple to oranges.  Ireland is a unified small country, Africa is not. You can travel twenty minutes in any directions over there and run into a new village who speaks a completely different language, and has their own sets of leaders. British control has never fully left Africa that's why there there are so many whites in South Africa. It is a land full of massacres and civil wars. Many pharmaceutical companies often take advantage of this region testing new medications on it's citizens. There is constant Local, and non local fighting for that regions natural resources- oil, & diamonds. There are no such resources in Ireland. The U.S. and the United nations has barely lifted a finger to end the struggles over there because all of these nations have their fingers in the pot. want to see a good example of how Africans are treated watch the films blood diamond, or Hotel Rowanda.  The UK released Ireland because there was not real benifit to keeping it, other than taxes. Billions are made every year from exploiting Africa and it's natural resources. There's no comparrison between these two nations. If you want to compare Ireand to something compare it to India.

Answer 5

LETS GET THE facts RIGHT.

Up until 1973 when Ireland joined the EU,Ireland was the basket case of Europe having made proportionately much less progress in the years between independence and 1973.

Ireland today believe it or not is the second richest country in the EU (after Luxenburg).This incredible "leap forward" was all do to it having joined the EU and taking full advantage of the wealth of the EU to spur it's development.

Suffice it to say it is  absolutely ludicrous to speak of African countries and their plight in relationship to Ireland eriod.

Answer 6

Such a tough question, but many African countries have not been granted the same international trading freedoms as Ireland has been afforded.

This means that many African countries cannot export their products (despite some of those countries having great natural resources) and therefore they are unable to produce the required profits that would see off their debts and enable domestic investment.

The unfair limits to their international trading abilities means that organisations like Oxfam are lobbying for "Fair Trade" - which calls for the unfair trade restrictions to be lifted so that African countries can have a decent economy.

Answer 7

Ireland is democratic and, at least partially, capitalistic.

African countries are usually dictatorships and the economy is crushed by the government.

Answer 8

Because Ireland had $.  Most African nations didn't, and they were (and still are) plagued by corruption.

Answer 9

Ireland is not yet free: England still illegally holds six counties as a colonial out post

26 + 6 = 1

Answer 10

well lets see, the rule of law springs to mind

no slavery,

no roving bands of mercenaries stealing children and forcing them to be soldiers

Answer 11

We gained much after independence then it was squandered by a t*t head called Eamon De Velara, it took us another half century to start correcting the mistakes of the past.

However, education was always there, even though it was religious orders that controlled them they were good at education.  

If it weren't for the EU Ireland would still be in that awful position it was not two decades ago.

But it was infrastructure, education, good government policy, access to the EU, attractiveness for Foreign Direct Investment and the rule of law and protection of human rights which have lead Ireland into a new golden age.  Ireland would be still an economic wreck if even one of these wasn't there.

Answer 12

I will not claim to give the definitive answer but a few things spring to mind.

1. Proximity to developed markets in Western Europe

2. Better governance

3. Education and other infrastructure systems remaining from Colonial rule

4. Remittances from ex-pat Irish (particularly in US) providing steady flow of foreign currency

5. While Ireland did suffer the potato famine there has not been the ongoing issues of disease (particularly malaria) and weather issues that have plagued sub-Saharan Africa

6. EU investment

7. Slavery - Ireland did not have a significant portion of it's workforce forcibly removed. With respect to to those that did travel to the new world see point 4.

8. Smart government investment in growing industries (particularly the IT industry in the 90s)

Answer 13

Robbie Irish here. How can you compare Ireland to Africa?

We had civil war here in 1916 to rid the English out of Ireland. It has never been a member of the commonwealth. Africa is a vast country compare to Ireland. Yes had the famine in between 1845 and 1849. So we haven't forgotten this. But that hasn't stop us helping the causes in Africa for justice and aid for Africa. Remember Bono and Bob Geldof and our ex President of Ireland 1990 - 97. Who was United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997-2002. Yes we are a rich nation now. But we like I said we Irish haven't forgotten those less fortunate

Answer 14

Because they are one of the 10 tribes that traveled northwest into Europe from the ancient biblical lands. This one will go over your head

Answer 15

I think a real study of the history of the island of Ireland would help prevent some people contributing a load of.........inaccurate statements.