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Discussion
of Case Study Themes
At
a Glance
Both Cote d'Ivoire and Gabon share legacies of French
colonialism. Urbanization has developed in both countries
around the export of primary resources and urban migration
pressures affect both as well. Economic crises in both
nations have been the result of price reductions in
world markets, monetary devaluation, and lack of infrastructure.
Neither country adds value to the commodities it ships
abroad. The limited infrastructure in each country's
interior supports the drain of resources. The relative
location of both Cote d'Ivoire and Gabon provides each
with opportunities for economic development.
Case
Study 1 -- Cote d'Ivoire: Cocoa and Change
Migration
Pattern Tied to Cacao Plantation System
The agricultural practices associated with both cocoa
and coffee production have shaped the landscape of
Cote d'Ivoire over time. Plantations were established
in rain forest areas that have the hot, humid climate
favored by the cacao plant (cacao is the name of the
plant while cocoa is the name of the product). During
the early development of these plantations, the forest
remained intact and sparsely populated and the plantation's
growth depended upon the arrival of migrant workers
seeking economic opportunities. Today, one-third of
Cote d'Ivoire's population is composed of Burkinabes
and other immigrants who originally arrived to work
the plantations.
High
demographic growth rates of three percent per year
and the large influx of migrants have expanded the
cultivation of cacao farther into the forest. Even
so, this primary industry is reaching capacity and
can no longer provide adequate work for farmers. With
the loss of virgin forestland, few opportunities exist
for the next generation to support a traditional village
lifestyle.
The Relationship of Agriculture to Urban Growth
The port of Abidjan provides one example of the influence
that agricultural wealth has had upon the growth and
activity of Cote d'Ivoire. This growth was fostered
principally by the government's investment in and
management of the stabilization fund, a fund that
once controlled the commercialization of cocoa, coffee
beans, and other agricultural exports. Minimum market
rates were fixed for products across the country,
and capital was accumulated when the price of commodities
was high on the international open market. The accumulated
capital was then available for investment, creating
industrial growth and strengthening the country's
infrastructure. This stimulated economy also created
job opportunities that attracted migrant workers.
Today the Stabilization Fund no longer exists and
prices are set by the market. A military coup in 1999
followed by years of civil war, along with a drop
in the cocoa market has threatened the state and its
prosperity.
Case
Study 2 -- Gabon: Sustainable Resources?
The
Colonial Imprint of Commodity-Based Economies
Because developing countries are dependent upon the
export of a narrow range of resources, they are often
subject to commodity price fluctuations beyond their
control. This difficulty afflicts both Cote d'Ivoire
and Gabon because each relies upon the exportation
of natural resources to obtain the funds necessary
to improve living conditions within their boundaries.
Cote d'Ivoire remains dependent upon cocoa bean production,
while Gabon is reliant on the export of oil. In an
increasingly globalized economy, price fluctuation
will become even less predictable, creating an even
greater challenge for developing countries.
Cote
d'Ivoire and Gabon are countries with undiversified
economies that export raw materials in order to reduce
their debt. This pattern of exportation is an extension
of colonialism -- in Gabon, the transportation and
trade infrastructure is oriented to the coastal areas
where raw timber is often exported without the local
processing that would provide jobs for the indigenous
population. Ties to their colonial legacy remain strong
for both countries, not only in economic terms, but
in cultural matters, political processes, and sources
of aid. France, which formerly governed both Cote
d'Ivoire and Gabon, plays an important role in each
country's future standard of development.
Overcrowding Places a Strain on Goods and Services
in Gabon
As Gabon struggles, people continue to flock to its
cities, which are now unable to provide employment
and fulfill basic needs. The cities lack the urban
services (i.e., housing, sanitation) to support the
growing population of migrant workers. This flow of
rural-to-urban migrants is also evident in Cote d'Ivoire.
Despite inadequate infrastructures that are unable
to support expanding populations, urban growth continues.
The
tide of migrants may be stemmed by making improvements
to primary production, thereby reducing the high percentage
of food products imported to these countries. The
problems created by these overcrowded conditions cannot
be solved, however, simply by adding services and
strengthening infrastructure through government investment.
There must also be a recognition of the conditions
in rural areas that prompt people to choose to migrate.
Both case studies identify agriculture and poorly
developed service economies as critical factors influencing
the migration patterns found in these countries. Additional
factors may include political instability and improved
access to education and healthcare.
Sustainable
Development Through Ecotourism?
In the 1990s, the remaining Gabonese rainforest was
surveyed by biologists Michael Fay and Leslie White
for the Wildlife Conservation Society. After seeing
the pristine Central African forest and its abundant
wildlife, Fay, White, and Gabonese biologists pressed
for the government to set aside these natural areas
from logging. In 2000 the president of Gabon established
a new natural park system that covers ten percent
of Gabon's rainforests. In preserving this natural
heritage for future generations of Gabonese citizens,
he also lays the groundwork for an ecotourism business
with attractions second to none.
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