Visual culture and neocolonialism (Essay Sample)

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Image Analysis
Sources: (Allan 288).
The image showcases a white man carrying a briefcase (denoting cash) approaching an African man (Ethiopian) to portray how reach European countries have been buying large farmable areas from poor Africans in Africa (Allan 289). I chose this image because it portrays a rising phenomenon that can be associated with neocolonialism. The concept of neocolonialism refers to the use of economic power, political power, cultural dominance, or any other pressure to influence and control other countries especially former colonies (Sartre 5).
I also chose this image because this trend is raising controversy whether it is genuine investment opportunities or neocolonialism. The aim of this paper is to analysis this image and what it portrays to be able to place the phenomenon where it belongs. Based on the attributes of neocolonialism mentioned above, this images fits the concept of "neocolonialism" in several ways.
First, the countries from which these chunks of lands are bought in many cases have available labor force, favorable political environment, excellent climatic conditions for farming and sufficient water (Kugelman et al. 75). Secondly the main buyers are fast growing countries such as; China (1,333, 500 hectares), countries with limited resources but large amount of cash available such as United Arab Emirates (2,833,000 hectares). The United States and United Kingdom have also been investing with about half million hectares (Middleton 248).
The sellers of these masses of land are poor developing countries ruled by powerful developed countries that always do not have the countries’ best interest at heart. Influence, control and oppression is evident. An example is the enormous sprouting of Chinese rice in Mozambique farmlands where in most cases a yearly rent cost less than $1 per hectare
(Michael 113). The foreign investors are making huge profits because the local people lack the skills and the proficiency to utilize resources in their home countries. However, the profits in does not profit the locals and foreign investors only contribute a small amount to the economy of that country. These are the issues that the image portrays which fit the co...