Colonialism

What is the dummy variable for colonialism?

If a country was colonized = 1; if not colonized = 0.

Who argued colonialism is the single most important factor explaining Africa?

Makau Mutua.

Definition of a colony

A territory under the political control of a foreign state; governed differently from the home country.

Definition of colonialism

A political-economic system where European powers conquered, settled, exploited, and controlled foreign territories.

Key characteristics of colonialism

Unequal power relationship; control by outsiders; exploitation of people and resources.

What are CFA francs?

Currency used in many former French colonies; printed and controlled by France.

Settler colonialism definition

Colonialism involving mass European settlement (examples: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Algeria).

Exploitation colonialism definition

Colonialism focused on extracting resources for the metropole (most of Africa; Congo under Leopold II).

Mass movement of indigenes example

Americo-Liberians colonizing Liberia in 1820; later dominating Liberians for 160 years.

Was Liberia colonized?

Indirectly—by African Americans, not Europeans; treated as unique on exams.

What led to colonialism in Africa?

Industrial Revolution demands for raw materials, cheap labor, and markets.

Years of Industrial Revolution relevant to colonialism

1760-1840.

What increased land greed between 1840-1884?

Growing European competition, capitalist expansion, and desire for African territory.

Why did Europeans explore Africa's interior?

To access markets, labor, raw materials beyond the coasts.

Berlin Conference date

Opened November 15, 1884.

Purpose of Berlin Conference

Formal division of Africa among European powers.

Percentage of Africa under African control before the conference

80%.

Major powers at Berlin Conference

France, Germany, Great Britain, Portugal.

Why was the U.S. present at the Berlin Conference?

To ensure Liberia remained untouched.

British colonial holdings

Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana.

French colonial holdings

Mauritania to Chad (French West Africa), Gabon, Republic of Congo (French Equatorial Africa).

Belgian colonial holdings

Democratic Republic of Congo under King Leopold II.

Portuguese colonial holdings

Mozambique and Angola.

Italian colonial holdings

Somalia and part of Ethiopia.

German colonial holdings

Namibia and Tanzania (until WWI).

Spain's colonial holding

Equatorial Guinea.

Countries with unique notes

Somalia (entirely Muslim), Eswatini (new name of Swaziland), Ashanti Kingdom (in Ghana).

Formation of Tanzania

Tanganyika + Zanzibar = Tanzania.

Consequences of colonialism

Technocrats empowered, chiefs abused power, public distrust, genocide, forced labor, taxation, monoculture economies, poverty.

What is indirect rule?

British system using African chiefs to enforce colonial policy.

What were hut and head taxes?

Colonial taxes forcing Africans into wage labor.

What is an enclave economy?

Economy structured only to extract raw materials for the colonial power.

Impact of cash crops on food security

Food production collapsed because colonies prioritized export crops.

Why African independence movements grew after WWII?

Europe weakened; Africans trained as technocrats; global anticolonial sentiment.

Who were nationalist leaders?

Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya).

Importance of the 5th Pan-African Congress (1945)

Organized strategy for independence; empowered nationalist leaders.

Mau Mau movement significance

Uprising in Kenya (1952) over Kikuyu land seizure.

First Sub-Saharan African country to gain independence

Ghana (1957).

Countries that gained independence in 1975

Angola and Mozambique.

Which country rejected CFA franc?

Guinea under Sekou Touré (1958).

Atlantic Charter relevance to decolonization

Stated all peoples have the right to choose their government and live free from fear and want.

U.S. Committee on Colonial Policy goals (1943)

Support independence, set independence timelines, create trusteeship systems.

What were Bretton Woods institutions?

IMF and World Bank (initially IBRD).

Purpose of IMF

Currency stabilization.

Purpose of Marshall Plan

Rebuild Europe with free financial aid.

What is path dependence?

History shapes future outcomes; colonialism created lasting structures.

Why couldn't African institutions mature?

Colonialism froze or destroyed pre-colonial systems (Fanon: "Don't imitate the European").

State formation vs. state consolidation

State formation = creating states (French Africa); state consolidation = strengthening institutions (British Africa).

Mamdani's colonial state theory

Bifurcated state—centralized despotism over natives + civil power for settlers.

Cooper's gatekeeper state theory

Colonial states controlled gateways (ports, customs) and depended on external powers.

Why is colonialism hard to shake off?

Weak legitimacy, foreign-designed institutions, ethnic divisions, dependence on former colonizers.

CFA franc impact today

Countries must keep reserves in French Treasury; limits monetary sovereignty.

Max Weber definition of the state

Entity with monopoly on legitimate use of force.

What is a nation-state?

A state dominated by one nation.

What is a Frankenstein state?

State and people disconnected; rulers vs. citizens mismatch.

Development theory — Modernization

Underdevelopment due to internal lack of modern traits; all states "climb stages of growth."

Development theory — Dependency

Poor states are exploited through global economic system; resources flow from periphery → core.

Development theory — World Systems

World divided into core, semi-periphery, periphery based on labor and production roles.

Critique of dependency theory

Some states can move up (ex: South Korea).

U.S. problems with decolonization

Balancing NATO allies' colonial interests and containing Soviet expansion.

Why Africa mattered in the Cold War?

Strategic location + resource competition.

Definition of neocolonialism

Control without direct rule through economics, debt, or political influence.

Nkrumah on neocolonialism

"Power without responsibility; exploitation without redress."

Core-periphery harmony idea

Elites in both metropole and colonized countries benefit from the system.