tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7858950.post4091874648105771333..comments2023-05-31T14:16:36.022+03:00Comments on Otto's Random Thoughts: Africa and OilJ. Otto Pohlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07457089758142264049noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7858950.post-24629053898405751582014-02-17T15:35:28.839+03:002014-02-17T15:35:28.839+03:00I don't think so there are a lot of Muslims in...I don't think so there are a lot of Muslims in Nigeria.J. Otto Pohlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07457089758142264049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7858950.post-72204701593057905442014-02-17T02:58:21.642+03:002014-02-17T02:58:21.642+03:00Does that relative concern for their own people in...Does that relative concern for their own people in Arab oil states compared to African oil states have to do with Muslim tradition and/or Muslim values?s. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7858950.post-57550031830805817382014-02-17T02:09:08.877+03:002014-02-17T02:09:08.877+03:00You are correct Qatar, U.A.E., Kuwait, and even th...You are correct Qatar, U.A.E., Kuwait, and even the KSA are dependent to an extent upon imported labor. The Gulf states do import cheap labor that is not treated very well. That is why I was careful to note that the indigenous populations and citizens of these states were well off. That is not the case in the African states. The ruling elites in Angola and Equatorial Guinea exploit and repress their own people not migrant workers. On Qatar specifically one of my friends who is Nepali had a particularly bad experience there.<br /><br />http://jpohl.blogspot.com/2013/05/bleg-for-fellow-grinnell-alumnus.htmlJ. Otto Pohlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07457089758142264049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7858950.post-25602933194913663062014-02-17T01:29:51.822+03:002014-02-17T01:29:51.822+03:00Qatar at least imports workers from Pakistan and N...Qatar at least imports workers from Pakistan and Nepal (and maybe other countries) and pays them slave wages. So maybe Qatar's prosperity is partially based on exploiting labor from <br />other societies.s. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7858950.post-89345938412236325392014-02-17T00:48:12.528+03:002014-02-17T00:48:12.528+03:00It may not be politically correct, but the average...It may not be politically correct, but the average citizen of Kuwait is living a lot better material standard of living than the average person in Equatorial Guinea. The OAPEC states in general have done a much better job than the oil producers along the Atlantic coast of Africa in using their oil revenues to benefit their population. The U.A.E., Qatar, Kuwait, and even Saudi Arabia do not have the mass poverty that oil rich Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, or even Gabon do.J. Otto Pohlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07457089758142264049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7858950.post-31973515491012174002014-02-16T23:31:29.106+03:002014-02-16T23:31:29.106+03:00Hello Otto,
For example, you say that a "so...Hello Otto,<br /><br />For example, you say that a "solution" for Africa is that <br />oil-rich countries deal with their resources as the Arab oil-states do.<br /><br />You might be right, but your solution isn't what anyone wants to hear.<br /><br />Leftwing readers want to be told that the solution is that African states nationalize their oil resources and rightwing readers want to be told that the solution is privatization, letting the free market work.<br /><br />Thus, your solution, which, as I said above, may be right for all I know, pleases no one, since the Arab oil states have few fans. They are suspected of financing fundamentalistic Islamic groups, and are criticized for homophobic, sexist and theocratic policies as well as for exploiting migrant laborers from Nepal and Pakistan, etc.<br /><br />Most people see societies as wholes and don't partialize. So they don't see or don't want to see that a society which treats women and migrant laborers badly may have used its oil resources efficiently in, say, constructing hospitals for its own citizens, etc.<br /><br />I realize that the Arab oil states may have some merits, but it's not politically correct, on the left or on the right, to point that out.s. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.com