Is the underdevelopment a hereditary disease which is inherited through generation? And then, finally we will have an underdevelopment country and an underdevelopment nation. Or is it a mere economic social issue that is acquired because of some different causes? Or is it like the plague whose infection can spread everywhere and affect every one?

When considering the history of the under developing countries, we will find that there are some countries that are underdeveloped "by nature" since they had emerged. These countries did not do anything to help themselves and to be saved from being underdeveloped countries for many years. There are many examples, these countries are called: “The Third World” or “The Underdeveloped countries” and both of them are not accurate similes, because the world is only one world, and it can't be geographically divided into developed and underdeveloped countries. Also these countries, the underdeveloped ones, can't even provide their citizens with the most important elements of life.

There were some countries that were underdeveloped in the past, but by the help of an economic experiment, they achieved welfare. One of these countries is South Korea which, by the support of the western camp during the cold war, became an important economic body which contributed in the welfare of the universal economy.

There one some countries that the economic welfare, but because of an economic crisis they stopped and couldn't go any step forward, so their achievements stopped at a specific phase. One of these countries is Malaysia, which is considered as one of the Asian Tigers. But these tigers were affected by an economic crisis in 1997 which badly affected their economic status. Mahathir Mohammad, the ex-prime minister of Malaysia, said that except for this economic problem, his country would have a great economic body.

Also these are many countries which achieved the economic welfare, but nothing can last, some economic problems happened and destroyed their dream. The United States is a good example, it has been affected by the Subprime Mortgage Crisis in 2006, and this economic problem caused looses of about 2.4 trillion dollars, and also caused the bankrupt of more than 70 banks.

  Japan is affected now by an economic crisis which is universally called "the Earthquake". This crisis forced the government to have a new economic plan based mainly on "asceticism". The government debts were about 300 milliard dollars, the reason which made some people suggest to sell some Japanese islands to pay it.

  On the other hand, there are under developing countries which try all the time to go forward, there are many obstacles in their way, but they never stopped trying again and again. During these attempts to rise, many achievements are done, and then these countries began to have some abilities that enable them to go forward. Dubai is one example of such countries. During few years, it has been the Arab major economic center in spite of the obstructions and the huge debts that still threaten the success of its beginning.

  But in fact, there are many countries which enjoyed an economic welfare for some time, and then, because of specific political and economic problems, it witnessed an economic backwardness, for example, Iraq which was a huge economic power during the 1970s, and was the main destination of every one who searches for a job. But after its invasion of Kuwait and its invasion by the United States, and many other events, Iraq lost its rank, in spite of its great national wealth, now it is exactly like what it had been decades before.

   Also the countries which formed the Soviet Union before were considered to be the second military power in the world, they enjoyed some degree of economic welfare. And Because of “the reconstruction theory" which was created by Mikhail Gorbachev; these countries, the Soviet Union before, turned to be independent countries, but poor ones. And now, the Russian citizen, who enjoyed many civil services in the reign of the communistic system of ruling, now the government can't provide him with the essential civil services.

 When I was young, I used to read the “Magazine "Journal" The German”. This magazine was published by the government of the East Germany, whose last president was Eric Honecker (1971-1989). I was amazed of what was published about the high levels in East Germany, which were represented in the civil services and civil constructions of parks, gardens, and public places, in addition to the support for the Arab cases. All these ideal services I don't think that they exist any more after years of the union between East and West Germany.

          Some countries have been affected by severe political problems like Japan. It had been attacked by the United States using the first atomic bomb in 1945. But after few years Japan could, not only rise again but also they worked in a huge economic plan for developing and it did succeed and Now Japan is one of the great powers in the world.

 Whatever the reasons of being the country underdeveloped, we can metaphorically consider the state of being under developed as a chronicle disease that is hard to be healed, it needs, not only a year or ten, but it actually needs, but it actually needs decades or even centuries of hard work.

It was noticed that the predetermined reasons of being underdeveloped are so rare compared to the reasons related to the human factor. Hence, development is the responsibility of man in the first degree. We can’t give up claiming that being underdeveloped for ever is our fate and we need a miracle to get over it.

Of course we can’t deny the predestination theory to justify being some countries developed, for example; the oil which was found in the Arab States of the Gulf which resulted in great social and economic changes for these countries. Bahrain was the first Arab country where oil was found in 1932. Oil has an important central role in turning these Arab countries,  Arab States of the Gulf, from being underdeveloped into countries that enjoy economic prosperity and welfare.

Let’s sum up the reasons of the underdevelopment: the lack, or even the exhaustion, of the natural resources, the economic collapse, the financial crises, wars, national debts, the natural  catastrophes, the lack of the political stability, corruption, and the administrative failure. But Doctor Mourad Wahba has added a new reason when he discussed the point of view that the culture of a nation can be a reason of its underdevelopment. He gives as example Ghana and South Korea. The first persisted in their culture, so it stayed as the same, underdeveloped till our day. The second has changed its culture so it has achieved its progress.

I do admit that culture may be an obstruction of the development process, as it is considered as the most important chapter of customs and traditions which are, some times, given a high rank equal to religion. Traditions control people and form their minds. Not always traditions represent a positive culture, as there are some traditions that call for routine, negativity and corruption. There are some cultures that don’t support, by a way or another, the nature of the industrial life which essentially needs fastness, energy, and administration.

 I do admit that the previous factors affect the development, but I don’t agree with the view that being the underdevelopment is a cultural phenomenon. That’s because the basic factors of development and Renaissance are explicit and defined and should be followed whether the culture of a country is positive or not. Renaissance is not something out of imagination or accidental events, but it is the product that needs specific factors to be formed.

The Egyptian scientists Farouk Al-Baz told the story of South Korea; the superiors had assembled to decide the way of their development, and they all agreed on that man is the essential factor to create any renaissance. They all agreed unanimously that education is the first step. They specialized 4 years just for working on developing the education system; they stopped the subsidization and used all their resources just for developing education. This was achieved within 13 years.

There are many factors that are essential to achieve the economic welfare, but in my point of view the political stability is the most important among them. No country could achieve prosperity without this element. This matter is not related to democracy by any means, but political stability itself is the only element that is able to prepare the soil for economic prosperity. Development is an economic case, but investment, funds, and business all need a stable political milieu.

Getting rid of underdevelopment is a hard complicated process that can’t be achieved in a day or couple. It needs many political, social, and cultural factors. Although it is hard, but the successful attempts of some countries proved that it is possible, and the main factor is the successful political system that is able to motivate people to achieve progress, the point that will change their history.