European Perceptions of Africa
Living in the dawn of the 21st century, the idea of economic development permeates third world politics. Perhaps no single issue has raised so much hope, or so much scepticism, as the idea of development. Historically, attempts at economic development have resulted in varying degrees of success and failure. Nowhere has this been more apparent as in Africa. By the 20th century, Africa began to play an increasingly important role in the European economy. In the 1920's, Europe promoted Laissez-Faire policies in Africa, but gradually shifted towards protectionism and Neo-Mercantilism in the 1930's, and finally to disengagement in the 1950's. The purpose of this essay is to chronicle these changes in European perceptions of Africa's role in the global economy, and explain that although the outcome of these policy-changes eventually led to the end of colonial rule, the political, social, and economic effects of these policies made it impossible for the Africans to enjoy true independence.
The first part of the 20th century was characterized by European imperialist policies in Africa. Seen as the "White Man's Burden," Africa's wealth and raw materials were exploited as cheap exports to support metropoles in Europe. Before the mid-1920's there was a high demand for tropical goods (sugar, cotton, cash crops, etc.). Correspondingly, both France and Britain prescribed laissez-faire liberalist policies for Africa. The idea was to open up Africa's wealth to the world while keeping it a net exporter of raw materials used in the manufacture of European goods. But by the mid-1920's, Africa's role began to change. The European economy, ravaged by World War One, was forced to rebuild....
... middle of paper ...
...7.
Cooper, F. and R. Packard, (eds). International Development and the Social Science. University of California Press; 1997.
Davidson, Basil. Black Man's Burden: African and the Curse of the Nation-State. New York Times Books; 1992.
1 Austen, Ralph. African Economic History. London: James Currey, 1987. P. 199
2 Ibid. P. 202
3 Ibid. P. 203
4 Ibid. P. 203
5 Cooper, F. and R. Packard, (eds). International Development and the Social Science. University of
California Press, 1997. P. 67
6 Ibid. P. 67
7 Ibid. P. 65
8 Austen, Ralph. African Economic History. P. 199
9 Davidson, Basil. Black Man's Burden: African and the Curse of the Nation-State. New York Times
Books; 1992. P. 181
10 Ake, Claud. Democracy and Development in Africa. Brookings Institution, 1996. P. 2
11 Ibid. P. 7
Since the 1880?s, when European nations colonized Africa, Europe had almost complete control over the continent, but this changed during the 1950?s and 60?s. By 1958, ten African countries had gained their independence, and sixteen more joined the list in 1960 alone. Although these nations? gain of independence demonstrates the ability of blacks to overpower their white oppressors, Baldwin argues ?The word ?independence? in Africa and the word ?integration? here are almost equally meaningless; that is, Europe has not yet left Africa, and black men here are not yet free? (336). While black people had been legally free in the United States since 1863, two decades before the European colonization of Africa, they were still not truly free, almost a century later.
Europe, in the late 1800’s, was starting a land grab on the African continent. Around 1878, most of Africa was unexplored, but by 1914, most of Africa, with the lucky exception of Liberia and Ethiopia, was carved up between European powers. There were countless motivations that spurred the European powers to carve Africa, like economic, political, and socio–cultural, and there were countless attitudes towards this expansion into Africa, some of approval and some of condemnation. Europe in this period was a world of competing countries. Britain had a global empire to lead, France had competition with Britain for wealth and so did other nations like Germany and Russia.
worse for Juliet for there it has come to the point where she has to
Rodney, Walter, A.M Babu, and Vincent Harding. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Washington, D.C.: Howard UP, 1981. Print.
forced to live in a part of Russia known as The Pale (which is now in
The duke then talks to Othello as if he is a criminal by saying Duke:
Priscilla. “The World Economy and Africa.” JSpivey – Home – Wikispaces. 2010. 29 January 2010. .
Boser, Ulrich. "The Black Man's Burden." U.S. News & World Report 133.8 (2002): 50. Academic
small and they also had to sleep two to a bed. They were educated, but
One of the main reasons Europeans colonized Africa was for their useful resources. There are countless assets in the African landscape that were wanted by other nations. The European countries had access to some of the worlds most needed resources such as cotton, oils, coal, gold, and diamonds because they controlled Africa. This is shown on a chart of African colonies and their exports. ("Selected African Colonies and Their Exports" 269). This shows how the European countries carefully selected the land they did, to get certain resources they needed or wanted to use to benefit from. Another chart from a book by Trevor Lloyd, (Lloyd, The British Empire), displays the large jump of exports to Africa from 1854 to 1900. What that means is once Great Britain established complete control of South Saharan Africa, they began to export the resources they found that they could use. These charts are proof of how the European's wanted resources, and that is one of the main reasons for the imperialization of Africa. Not only did the European nations want the continent's resources, but they had an equal hunger for power.
19th century imperialism in Africa was fueled by greed and arrogance rather than the supposed willingness to help by the Europeans. This was reflected in the more negative effects on Africa than positive. “The White Man’s Burden” exposed the realistic intentions of imperialism. Further advancement of European countries was the sole concern.
The Nurse’s job is take care of Juliet and raise her; however, upon learning that Juliet is romantically involved with their family’s enemy, she doesn’t provide any form of counsel to Juliet.” I must another way, To fetch a ladder by the which your love Must climb a bird 's nest soon when its dark.” (2.5.77-79). The Nurse aides Romeo by telling him a way to Juliet’s room showing her approval of the relationship. She did not provide any form of counsel to Juliet or inform Capulet or Lady Capulet about Juliet’s relationship. Due to the fact that the Nurse does not do her job and doesn’t tell Juliet to end her relationship with Romeo, it caused this ill-fated relationship to continue. To add to the issue, the Nurse later betrays Juliet when Juliet begs her for help. “I think you are happy in this second match, For it excels your first, or, if it did not, Your first is dead, or 'twere as good he were, As living here and you no use of him.” (3.5.226-238). The Nurse goes against her previous actions and expects Juliet to forget about Romeo by dispraising him. Juliet wants to remain faithful to her husband and this betrayal along with Capulet’s ultimatum causes Juliet to act hastily and want to die if she wasn’t with
American policies demonstrated narrow interest in Africa in the early 1950’s. As every move was suppose a strategic one soon after WWII, Africa was a low precedence harmonious to public needs. For solicitation, Michael Clough eminent that “American policy makers seldom gave pre-eminence to initiatives that did not attend U.S. Strategic share” during this period (Clough, 1). Africa held contracted value at this moment in time. Moreover, Henry Byroade, head of African affairs in 1953 bluntly say, “consider us be candid in allow our post in the puissance an...
How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney, was one of the most controversial books in the world at the time of its release. The book seeks to argue that European exploitation and involvement in Africa throughout history. This is the cause of current African underdevelopment, and the true path to the development is for Africa to completely sever her ties with the international capitalist economy. Rodney describes his goal in writing the book in the preface: “this book derives from a concern with the contemporary African situation. It delves into the past only because otherwise it would be impossible to understand how the present came into being and what the trends are for the near future” (vii). Rodney writes from a distinctly Marxist perspective by arguing that the inequalities inherent in European capitalism and required exploitation of certain countries in order to sustain capitalism.
There is no doubt that European colonialism has left a grave impact on Africa. Many of Africa’s current and recent issues can trace their roots back to the poor decisions made during the European colonial era. Some good has resulted however, like modern medicine, education, and infrastructure. Africa’s history and culture have also been transformed. It will take many years for the scars left by colonization to fade, but some things may never truly disappear. The fate of the continent may be unclear, but its past provides us with information on why the present is the way it is.