Natural disasters and a lack of resources are the main causes of global poverty. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

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Natural disasters and a lack of resources are the main causes of global poverty. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

        Poverty can defined in many ways, but one method globally accepted is the International Poverty Line. A country is said to be under the line if, on average, people earn less than US$1.08  per day, measured in terms of purchasing power parity. Although natural disasters are particularly competent at causing huge scale destruction, it is difficult to support the claim that they are the main cause of poverty as the USA, arguably the most developed country in the world, has had a troubled past in regards to major disasters. Similarly, although a lack of resources can be a strain on a developing country, there are more important explanations for poverty, such as colonialism, unfair trade, war, political instability and AIDS.

        The most significant cause of global poverty is colonialism, in particular that which occurred during the late 19th century. From 1450 European powers began invading and colonising countries, culminating in the ‘scramble for Africa’ in the 1870s. By the end of the 19th century, European powers controlled 85% of the world. The most well known Empire being the British Empire, covering nearly a quarter of the Earth’s total land surface, including countries such as India, Malaysia and Uganda. Colonialism was so significant by stunting the host countries development. Taxation was imposed on the local people, plantations created and raw materials such as crops and minerals, were sent from the colonies to Europe. A good example of this involves France colonising Senegal. Many senegalese farmers were forced to grow groundnuts and send them back to France. This eventually led to a shortage of food, and Senegal had to import rice which was an economic strain on the country. This resulted in colonies struggling to develop themselves and escape poverty, as they were constantly having to provide for Europe. Although some infrastructure such as ports and railways was developed, it is clear that colonialism was a negative for colonised states from the condition of countries which has been subjected to foreign rule; for example the extreme poverty in the Democratic Republic of Congo (colonised by Belgium), Nigeria (Britain) and Senegal (France). A second historical factor causing poverty, albeit less significant than colonialism, was the slave trade. Between 1650 and 1850, over 12 million African men were shipped across the Atlantic. By wiping out a whole generation of young fit men, the African population didn’t increase over the 2 centuries. This had massive repercussions on African countries, as they were not able to develop without the increased population or the whole generation of young, able bodied men. This knocked countries back centuries in terms of development.

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        Political instability is the most significant, contemporary factor in causing poverty. From it stems a wide array of problems such as war, a lack of democracy and corruption, all of which leave a country very poor. Political factors are by far the most significant cause of poverty as they cause/reach nearly all socio-economic factors. The best example of how political instability can cause poverty is Zimbabwe, currently with the lowest GDP per capita of any country in the world, averaging at US$200 per annum. President Robert Mugabe’s harsh regime has resulted in hyper inflation, mass emigration and mass murders, dramatically ...

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This answer contains some very good explanations of the causes of poverty around the world and shows a sophisticated understanding of the role of history, politics and economics. However, it is unbalanced in that it gives very little consideration to the roles that natural disasters and lack of access to resources might play (which were key words in the question). Even if the author has strong opinions as to the real causes of poverty, it is still important that the answer should present this side of the argument before reaching a conclusion.