Xate, Lulamile L.2025-04-162024Xate, Lulamile L.. (2024). Ethical Foundations For International Investments In Developing Poor African Countries [Masters dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WIReDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/44800https://hdl.handle.net/10539/44800A research report Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Applied Ethics for Professionals (by coursework and research report), In the Faculty of Humanities , School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024There is a moral and ethical obligation for the rich and developed nations and their business corporations to invest in and trade ethically with Africa. This moral obligation extends to African leaders and elites who facilitate the continued exploitation of Africa and corruption in the post-independence period. To reveal this obligation and its basis, I begin by reviewing and exploring the history of African colonialism in pursuit of capital profit maximization within the imperialist framework and its consequences, focusing on its immoral and unethical practices. I then show that the moral foundations of colonialism and post-independence African leadership have not been considered in understanding African underdevelopment in relation to the prosperity of other nations, and the role of African leaders. Finally, I argue there are morally right actions that can plausibly change this. I explicate this using three moral philosophical approaches – Kantian, Utilitarian and Ubuntu African relational ethics.en© 2024 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.UCTDAfricaBusinessKantian EthicsUbuntuUtilitarianismDissertationUniversity of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgSDG-8: Decent work and economic growth