got a degree in econ at a right wing college. i took a macro course discussing economic growth in “3rd world countries”, which had already fallen out of use in academia for “developing nations”. The professor discussed how africa had basically been used as a playground for western imperialists (not his words) to test their economic theories via targeted grants, loans, &c. It wouldn’t have been bad had he been able to contain his glee at the ideas. You could see the wheels turning that he had a plan of his own that had either already been executed or he was on the brink of getting the grant funded, so he could be the next imperialist in the playground.

From a historian’s perspective, it was fascinating (the same way Johan de Witt’s death is fascinating) but there was no presentation of the idea that maybe we should stop fucking with an entire continent’s economy just for shits and giggles. which would have been nice.