Origins of International Relations

Role of imperialism and World War I

• Imperialism: When a nation extends its power by obtaining land through purchase, diplomacy, or military conquests.

Berlin conference and Scramble for Africa

• The attendees – representatives of 12 European countries, diplomats from USA, and Belgium's Leopold II - didn't partition Africa at the conference

• Impact -

  • Rejection of Local Agency

    •  By 1900, 90% of Africa under European control

    • Mineral resources belonged to outsiders

  • Legitimization of Violence

    • Mass violence and genocide

    • Congo Free State: free trade area stretching across Congo

Colonialism and reparations

• Reparations: Forms of decolonisation - Case studies

  • Statue of King Leopold II in Belgium spray painted in 2020

  • Students in South Africa and UK marching to challenge Eurocentric curriculums

  • France determined to return 26 stolen artifacts to Benin

  • South Africa in 2015 - RhodesMustFall movement

  • Black Lives Matter