Neocolonialism In Africa
analytical Essay
1470 words
From the 1950s through the early 1990s, nations across Africa broke through the barriers that colonial powers had placed to become nation-states: groups of people in a region who share both common cultural characteristics and self-determination. This was the result of many decades of work by nationalists and citizens to earn one freedom after another. The nation-states of Africa were rewards that were worth the lives and time spent by these brave people. In a way, the prize of independence for African nationalists is similar to the prize of a bouquet of roses, in that having self-determination and sovereignty over your own land is beautiful, no matter the troubles that poke from underneath. For some nation-states in Africa, these thorns of trouble have gone so far as to …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Compares the prize of independence for african nationalists to a bouquet of roses, in that having self-determination and sovereignty over your own land is beautiful.
- Explains that the flowers that blossom from the nation-state may seem few and far between at first, especially given the strife and struggle that has raged rampant across the continent.
- Explains kwame nkrumah's celebration of african sovereignty in international affairs, which was unheard of before 1950, and allowed african nation-states to exchange ideas.
- Explains that african states used their sovereignty in international affairs to reach out to many countries, including their former european overlords.
- Explains that the thorns that come with the african nation-state's bouquet range from the impact of neocolonialism, to economic distress, ethnic tension, and political quibbling.
- Analyzes how the lack of preparation for independence has led to neocolonialism, corruption, and political gridlock in africa.
- Argues that africans retain their right to self-determination, which is, as nkrumah defines it, the right of all people to choose their own forms of government.
- Opines that colonial governance was dominated by europeans, who treated africans as second-class citizens in their homeland, and did not give them the same rights as white settlers.
- Explains why ghanaian leader kwame nkrumah declared in july 1953 that he would "prefer self-government with danger to servitude in tranquility."
However, most of these issues can be rooted in the troubles that come with the colonial legacy European powers left. From the Scramble for Africa in the late 1800s to their scrambling from Africa mainly in the 1960s and 1970s, European powers actively failed to give Africans the education and training they needed to become self-governing, self-sustaining entities. Guinean independence leader Sekou Toure loathed the fact that “the education dispensed in Africa was deliberately inferior and limited to those disciplines which would allow the better exploitation of the population.” According to Martin Meredith, in pre-independence Congo “The sum total of university graduates was thirty.” This lack of preparation may have been driven by a racist superiority complex or a lack of knowledge on African affairs, the latter of which is most evident in Basil Davidson’s reference to an official British report from 1945, which stated, “Somewhere … within a century, within half a century, a new African state will be
Related
- analytical
- explanatory
- opinionated
- Colonialism In Africa Essayanalytical essayKiare Abdul-Majeed Professor Charlotte Walker-Said AFR 150: Origins of Contemporary Africa May 23, 2014 It is said that colonialism is the occupation and control of one nation by another. In this case it was the continent of Europe occupying Africa during the late 19th and 20th century. There were many justifications for this rule over Africa. Some of the justifications were that they would bring higher civilization, increase trade and economic prosperity for Africans, Christianity and the end of paganism, human rights and the end of slavery, women’s rights and the end of polygamy, the introduction of freedom and liberty, the benefits of modern medicine, better agriculture, and modernity. The particular justification of colonialism I’m going to focus on is the bringing of higher civilization to the African people.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that colonialism is the occupation and control of one nation by another. the continent of europe occupied africa during the late 19th and 20th century.
- Opines that the argument for colonialism is the bringing of higher civilization to the african people, based on their racial prejudices and ideologies.
- Explains how the british annexed natalia in 1842. they warned the zulu that they would take measures against them if they didn't give up their warriors who had supposedly killed british settlers.
- Explains that the british dominated south africa after the war was lost and set up apartheid so that africans could not interfere with their business.
- Analyzes how colonialism failed to implement european ideals, norms and objectives in africa. the only time they brought higher civilization was when shaka was in power.
- Explains that shaka zulu was in control of a huge monarchy that spanned most of south africa in 1824.
951 wordsRead More - Colonialism and Oppression in the African Diasporaanalytical essayColonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora The experiences of the women of the African diaspora are as diverse as the regions they have come to inhabit. Despite the variety in their local realities, African and African-descended women across the planet share in many common experiences. Wherever they have made their homes, these women tend to occupy inferior or marginalized positions within their societies. Whether in the United States, Europe, Latin America, or even Africa itself, black women must confront what Patricia Hill Collins describes as a “matrix of domination” which has, for centuries, perpetuated their subjugation and oppression.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the african diaspora's experiences are as diverse as the regions they've come to inhabit. african and african-descended women across the planet share in many common experiences.
- Analyzes how wangari maathai explores the legacy of colonialism and oppression in her native country through her 2006 memoir, unbowed.
- Explains that most of the forced dislocations took place in the highland regions. the rich soil and temperate climate of this area had proven attractive to native african peoples for centuries.
- Analyzes how the british colonial administration introduced a currency-based income tax system, putting native kenyans in precarious positions.
- Analyzes how european domination drastically altered the african landscape, both physically and culturally. they cites the example of female breadwinners of the oguta region of igboland.
- Opines that widespread decolonization did not remedy the inequalities faced by africans as a whole or by women specifically.
- Analyzes the economic aspects of this disparity in profant's article, "french geopolitics in africa: from neocolonialism to identity."
- Explains that the oppressive realities of colonial history have taken a slightly different form for african-descended women living in the united states.
- Analyzes how the modern pornography industry perpetuated the image of black women as animalistic beings with raging sexualities in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
- Analyzes how gentrification is a contemporary oppression which has roots in the united states’ colonial past.
- Analyzes how colonial histories in africa and the united states reveal the matrices of domination which affect black women across the globe.
- Analyzes older, daniel jose, "gentrification’s insidious violence: the truth about american cities." salon.
- Explains profant, tomas, french geopolitics in africa: from neocolonialism to identity, perspectives: central european review of international affairs.
2021 wordsRead More - Colonialism and Oppression in the African Diasporaanalytical essayColonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora The Kenyan feminist and environmental activist, Wangari Maathai, explores the legacy of colonialism and oppression in her native country through her moving 2006 memoir, Unbowed. Maathai explains that over the course of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Africa experienced a massive influx of white settlers. In an effort to solidify control over recently acquired colonies, many European powers had encouraged large numbers of their ethnically white citizens to make a new home on the African continent. As a result, thousands of native Africans were displaced.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how wangari maathai explores the legacy of colonialism and oppression in her native country through her 2006 memoir, unbowed.
- Analyzes how the british colonial administration introduced a currency-based income tax system, putting native kenyans in precarious situations.
- Analyzes how european domination drastically altered the african landscape — traditional roles, practices, and beliefs were subverted or modified to fall in line with european cultural ideals.
- Explains that after world war ii, many countries in africa and other regions of the globe experienced independence for the first time in decades. the war in europe had taken a massive toll on the people and infrastructure of many colonial powers.
- Analyzes the economic aspects of this disparity in profant's article, "french geopolitics in africa: from neocolonialism to identity."
931 wordsRead More - Imperialism In Africa Essayexplanatory essayImperialism in Africa took root in the late 19th century when European nations divided up the continent for their own benefit. Each nation practiced a certain type of rule over the Africans of which they conquered. For example, the Germans, the Dutch, and the French used the practice of Direct Rule over their colonies in Africa. This system is characterized by the colonizers need for the colonized to become assimilated into their culture. The purpose of this was to make the African people “civilized” and act like Europeans. The governing administrations forced on the native inhabitants by the colonial power were meant to undermine those institutions set in place by the indigenous people. By taking over the community’s government on all levels,
In this essay, the author
- Explains how imperialism in africa took root in the late 19th century when european nations divided up the continent for their own benefit.
- Explains that the british practiced indirect rule, which is organized at multiple levels, rather than at one centralized level like in direct rule.
730 wordsRead More - European Imperialism in Africaanalytical essayEurope, in the late 1800’s, was starting for a land grab in 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 economical, political, and socio–cultural, and there were countless attitudes towards this expansion into Africa, some of approval and some of condemnation.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that europe was starting for a land grab in the african continent in 1878, but by 1914, most of africa, except liberia and ethiopia, was carved up between european powers.
- Analyzes how leopold, the heir of the belgian throne, had a materialistic point of view, as he wanted to keep belgium strong and prosperous.
- Analyzes how the resolution of the german social democratic party congress furthers the anti imperialist sentiment that existed during this time.
- Explains that imperialism was accompanied by jingoism. prince leopold urged to see where there are unoccupied lands to prove to the world that belgians are an imperial people capable of dominating and enlightening others.
- Explains that the europeans wanted a spread of culture because they saw their race as fitter than the africans. social darwinism led to the concept of "white man's burden."
- Analyzes how the "white man's burden" concept spread throughout europe, and the exploitation of africans, which led to revolts against the europeans.
1417 wordsRead More - Driving Force Behind European Imperialism in Africaanalytical essayBy 1885, little to no independent countries existed throughtout the whole African continent. This was due to the imperialism done by strong European countries. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, and Spain are to blame. There are many possible contributing factors as to why the European countries decided to completely carve up Africa, split it up, imperialize the whole of the continent. Because of the need for resources Africa could supply, the European desire for power, and the European's reaction to the White Man's burden, they took control of almost every square mile in Africa through imperialization.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how europeans colonized africa to become even more powerful than they already were. they also felt the weight of the white man's burden.
- Explains lloyd, tevor owen, great britain and south saharan africa imports and exports, 1854 and 1900.
- Explains ruskin's lecture at oxford university. the dbq project.
- Explains how the europeans colonized africa for their useful resources and their desire for power.
- Analyzes how european countries felt the white man's burden as a strong enough reason to imperialize africa.
- Explains the driving force behind european imperialism in africa. fabri, freidrich, "do germany need colonies?"
631 wordsRead More - Imperialism In Africa Essayanalytical essayIn the early 1500s, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to travel to Africa, and colonize it. After many years more Europeans began to travel to Africa and colonize it also. The European imperialism in Africa had a negative impact in the 1500s to 1967. Many of the effects of imperialism were shown in the different countries and regions throughout Africa. The impacts of imperialism were most severe in South Africa, Congo, and West Africa.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that european imperialism in africa had a negative impact in the 1500s to 1967. the impacts were most severe in south africa, congo, and west africa.
- Explains the conflict between the natives, boers, and the british in south africa. the british created the "hottentot law" which required africans to carry passes of their name and residence while in public.
- Analyzes how king leopold ii of belgium turned congo into his own private colony to protect the "natives" from arab slavers, and to open the heart of africa to christian missionaries.
- Explains how europeans took in natural resources, and many africans for slavery. the portuguese colonized west africa, exporting their resources without economic return.
- Explains that european imperialism had a negative impact on africa in the 1500s to 1967. they caused many social and economic issues mainly in south africa, congo, and west africa.
840 wordsRead More - African Colonialismopinionated essayWorld Influence on the Modernization of Africa Developing Political Systems The way countries, nations or states act and base their policies on many times reflect what their past was like. This is very true in the case of Africa. The only problem is that Africa is said to have no history. This just means that Africa’s many cultures did not affect the way imperialists and other influences acted towards the huge continent.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the way countries, nations or states act and base their policies on many times reflect what their past was like. the only problem is that africa is said to have no history.
- Explains that slavery was illegal in the 1860s, but it was profitable because it required an initial investment to african 'leaders'.
- Explains that africa was colonized by europe by countries such as great britain and france, which one can still see evidence of today.
- Explains why africa didn't use its raw materials to make its own processed finished products. the west discriminated against this idea.
- Analyzes how the europeans tried to make africa another version of the west by setting up schools, hospitals, and other bureaucracies that were successful back home.
- Explains that african nations were led to believe that nothing could stand in their way to achieve the same if not similar goals. they relied on the dependency theory, which broke down in the 1980s.
- Opines that africa cannot jump into a world market economy as quickly as it wants. it has to establish itself, industrialize and be certain it can compete with the rest of the world before it actually does.
- Opines that money needs to be in the economy, not the elite, so that people can spend the money on goods that are being produced.
- Opines that africa is now in a western style mode. the government has to start taking advantage of today’s capitalist economy.
1862 wordsRead More - Colonialism In Africa Essayanalytical essayWhat is the impact of colonialism on the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa (Africa) or more generally the colonized countries? This is a question which has reiterated itself through the social sciences for over a century. Colonialism refers to the establishment of political and economic control by one state over another. The colonial experience began in the late 1400s, when Europeans arrived and set up trading posts in Africa. They became interested in Africa as a whole. Europeans were impressed with the abundance of natural resources. It reached a peak in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when European powers dominated many parts of the continent. Colonialism in Africa created nations and shaped their political, economic, and cultural
In this essay, the author
- Explains the impact of colonialism on the economic development of sub-saharan africa.
- Explains how europeans began to take an interest in africa, mainly the coastal regions. they established trading posts and engaged in commerce with local peoples.
- Analyzes how frantz fanon's 1959 book, a dying colonialism, offers an interesting look on the algerian war of independence.
- Analyzes how fanon makes the distinction between white people or europeans and the coloniser in his book, which he finds problematic.
- Opines that colonialism's breaches are the result of a victory of the colonized over their old fear and over the atmosphere of despair distilled day after day.
- Analyzes how fanon explains how the radio and medicine of europeans were rejected by algerians, and how new forms of resistance were made possible through the conservation of traditional values in the midst of colonialism.
1049 wordsRead More - The Impact Of European Imperialismanalytical essayNew Imperialism began in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and was a time when European powers began to pursue a structured (more formal) political control over other areas. Yet it is important to keep in mind that informal empires tend to have an expiration date. As time progresses, history shows us that one of the parties involved will start pushing for change, whether that change is for power or independence is based on the side that provoked the change. In this case, the party that pushed for change was the superior one. The push for power was motivated by greed and an overwhelming desire to control every aspect of valuable foreign areas. One of the biggest moments in the history of colonization was the ‘Scramble for Africa’, as historians (and Professor Hopkins) refer to it as. As slaves were the biggest resource of the time, the banning of slave trade in Africa in the early nineteenth century caused European disinterest in continent that they were once heavily dependent on. Although there were localized replacements, like ivory trading, they were not as effective in keeping Europe’s interest. As a result, Africa was desperate to be relevant again, their economy depended on it. Because of the ban on the slave trade, there was a sudden demographic collapse of middle aged persons, which was also counterproductive to the growth of the continent. Before the scramble, Africa was naturally
In this essay, the author
- Opines that robinson and gallagher's article regarding informal empires is correct in claiming that they played a large part in european imperialism.
- Explains how the victorians sought to expand their sphere of influence in asia and africa. the first and second opium war and china's struggle with great britain illustrate how informal empires and the power of manipulation can change the fate of a country.
- Analyzes how britain's introduction of opium into china was an effective and successful strategy because it enabled great britain to control trade and policies within the asian country.
- Analyzes how robinson and gallagher stressed the equal importance of informal and formal empires and their impact on history. britain gained valuable knowledge from their success in china and showed the europeans that there is a vast amount of land that they can conquer.
- Explains that new imperialism began in the last quarter of the nineteenth century when european powers began to pursue a structured (more formal) political control over other areas.
- Explains how european imperialism proved that the european powers were a major force whose hunger couldn't be satiated.
- Analyzes how informal empires provided a mental foundation for colonizers in the nineteenth century. they used this momentum to repeatedly overtake foreign lands and implement formal institutions within other countries.
- Analyzes how robinson and gallagher claim that informal empires, which were direct results of economic forces, were overlooked during the era of european imperialism.
1344 wordsRead More