The Impact and Implications of European Colonization on the African Continent
European states such as France, England, Germany and Belgium have had a history of
establishing colonies in the African continent from the 17th through the 20th centuries.
The unexplored vastness of the land and its natural resources offered possibilities for
commercial development and new territories in which to practice Christian evangelism.
The scrambling for pieces of Africa by the European powers up until the first World War
have effected far-reaching consequences for Africa and the rest of the political world,
the major ones being native ethnic conflicts, enduring racial oppression and rampant
poverty.[1]
The recently ended South African system of apartheid was inherently unjust and illogical
because it allowed the merely 10 percent white European ruling class of the land
oppress the remaining 90 percent native tribal population and exploit them for personal
gain.[2]
Agricultural and industrial capitalism forced African nations to produce mono-crops and
mine precious metals and gems for the consumption of the home European countries.
The native Africans stagnated in poverty because they produced what they did not
consume and were expected to consume imported products from these countries. The
tribal populations were geared for manual labor and developments to improve their
economic well-being and human potential were ignored.[3]
The arbitrary division of Africa by European colonizers was poorly drawn and
disregarded the separation of native groups into different settlements. This has resulted
in arbitrary national boundaries following independence in the1950s, which in turn has
created ethnic tension and violence amongst natives. The parallel colonial introduction
of the concept of social hierarchy has also effected long lasting conflict.[4]
On the positive side, European colonialism has paved the way for modern education
systems, medicine and such infrastructures as roads and electricity to be used in Africa.
However, without colonialism, it can also be assumed that the continent would have
developed its own unique systems for education, medical treatment and government.[5]
Missionary work often preceded formal colonization and European missionary societies
established village schools where basic reading, writing and mathematics were taught
to children, who were also provided religious instruction. Conversions to Christianity
were successful in the continent and resulted in the formation of a class of Africans who
pushed for further education and mission work and often obtained positions in the
colonial administration.[6]
Mission-educated leaders eventually became the first group to oppose European rule
and demanded the Africanization of their implanted religious and political institutions.
They emphasized the contradictions between Christian doctrine and the colonial
administration’s actual practices.[7]
On the whole, European colonization had more negative than positive impacts on
Africa. Colonialism was practiced to benefit the administration, the home country and
the European traders while keeping the African populations subservient. The education
provided by mission schools broke down traditional African social organization and the
profits from resource extraction were not used to improve the colonies. The social,
economic and political problems in many modern African states trace their roots to the
colonial era.[8]
Today, although many African states are politically independent, they lack self-
sustainability and are not financially capable of running their countries. They are forced
to ask for international assistance for resources, technology and markets for trade.
Africa pays more loan interest payments annually to the International Monetary Fund
and the World Bank Group (IMF/WB) than it receives loans from them. The privatization
programs deriving from the imposed Structural Adjustment Plans of the IMF/WB has
resulted in the inadequate providing of health, education and decent living standards
for the inhabitants.[9]
[1] Amanda Nelson, “Effects of European Colonialism in Africa”, associatedcontent, 5 January 2010,
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2547435/effects_of_european_colonialism_in.html?cat=37>
[accessed 5 May 2011]
[2] ibid
[3] ibid
[4] ibid
[5] ibid
[6] Amy J. Johnson, “Colonialism: Impact on African Societies”, Encyclopedia of African History: Volume
1 A-G, 14 December 2004, (Taylor and Francis, 2009)
<http://www.bookrags.com/tandf/colonialism-impact-on-african-tf/> [accessed 5 May 2011]
[7] ibid
[8] ibid
[9] “The Effects of African Colonialism”, DocShare, <http://www.docshare.com/doc/163098/The-Effects-of-African-Colonialism> [accessed 5 May 2011]
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment