Many theories might explain why Africa has been the poorest continent despite its many valuable resources and vast amount of land. In this thesis, I mean to test my theory that Western influence has had a major impact on economic development and the progress of democracy in Africa. This influence, which I view as an ongoing effect that went through the past to the present, can be either good or bad. This process includes the colonial history, the resources and culture distribution, and also foreign aid, which I view as one of the major ways of implanting Western impact in the modern era.

Africa is in desperate need of foreign aid and foreign direct investment; however, the influences of foreign aid and investment on economic growth and democracy promotion are as yet unknown. I recognize that the potential positive influence of foreign aid and investment on Africa's development is hard to ignore; on the other hand, I think foreign aid and investment are hurting Africa's economy because many foreign aid programs are designed neither to fit the economic structure that leads to promising growth nor to meet the need of local people. Another concern is that foreign aid is far from enough to build Africa's economy and resolve issues because it is heavily unevenly distributed.