Some economists have argued this history of outside exploitation demonstrates the 'scourge of raw materials' problem. In this situation, highly sought-after, yet rare, raw resources are present in a less-developed, less-powerful entity. Such a situation places intense pressures on the original "possessors" of the resources. In African nations, these pressures, it is argued, have led to wars and slowed development. While Western nations like the United States, Canada, Australia, France and the United Kingdom, as well as emerging economic powerhouses like China, continue to exploit Africa's natural resources, the value from the natural resources goes to the West and East Asia, rather than Africa, exacerbating poverty in Africa, despite Africa's abundance of natural resources. A Guyanese historian, Walter Rodney, posits that foreign ownership of African natural resources is the "most direct way" that rich countries continue to dominate African states without formally colonizing them: "When citizens of Europe own the land and the mines of Africa, this is the most direct way of sucking the African continent." See also Economy of Africa Mineral industry of Africa Renewable energy in Africa Water scarcity in Africa References