...World) and South (Third World) countries relations for half a century. In this essay one will be looking at the question of to what extend can the process of colonialism be blamed for the problems being experienced by developing countries today? Also matters pertaining to African migration, the spread of Islam, gold and slaves will be included in this essay as they are central to the process of colonialism. Towards the end of the last century, with a long history already behind it European colonization branched out in quite different forms according to the place and the interests of the metropolis. According to Thirlwell (1994:60) it was “a transitional period in which brutal power relations existed alongside paternalist feelings of responsibility towards natives who needed to be civilised” thus, great powers put the then dominant ideas into practice opening up the way to the so called “development” (Thirlwell, 1994). According to Rist (1997:100) “colonialism is a practice of domination, which involves the subjugation of one people to another”. The term colony comes from the Latin word colonus, meaning farmer. Thus, one believes that this root reminds us that the practice of colonialism usually involved the transfer of population to a new territory, where the arrivals lived as permanent settlers while maintaining political allegiance to their country of origin. I tend to agree with Rist (1997:105) when he says that “Fast sailing ships made it possible to reach distant ports...
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...COLONIALISM IN AFRICA How does the legacy of colonialism affect contemporary African international relations? If questioned today about Africa in general the first reactions I would have are poor governance, poverty, conflict, economic instability and hunger. These are the major characteristics that dominate most of the states within the continent as a whole. The question would be has it always been this way? Different debates and differences have been focused on the colonial legacy for post-colonial Africa and the nature of colonialism. Various characterizations and conceptions tend to differ considerably among the international relations and African scholars. Between 1800 and 1900, majority of the European powers colonized the African continent. Colonialism, a political-economic occurrence whereby the various European nations exploited, took over, explored and settled down in great parts of the world still has a far reaching impact on the African continent. The colonialists; prolonged their ways of living beyond their domestic borders, economically exploited their colonies natural resources and this was done in order to strengthen and develop the colonies of the West and lastly created new markets. The African continent was indirectly impacted on the social, political, economic and cultural way of living. The colonial legacy is the inheritance of the state that belonged to the colonial administration from this administration by post-colonial rulers in...
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...particular region. Early colonialism is one cause for such diversity. Colonization is the establishment of a colony through the organized migration to an outside territory. From the 1600’s to 1800’s Western Europeans were the colonized groups dominating many parts of the world for a variety of reasons. Many conquest to other countries were to discover natural resources like, spices, gold and other trade-able material unique to its region. Some expedition set out to explore for other reasons like proving a theory or to follow up on stories told by their fellow explorers. Once reaching their destination, other factors made them stay such as the discovery of monetary gain, religious freedom and political powers. While some countries like China, were unable to become colonized, others were dominated to the extent of their people eventually becoming a minority in their own land. Imperialistic ambition was a major element in the colonization of many third world countries. As immigrants settled on foreign soil, they believed they were legitimately entitled to occupy the land. They eventually impose their economic, religion, and social systems onto an existing societies. No country or island was particularly excluded from such invasions. Some countries managed to fight off European settlers while others lacked the sophistication needed to protect their land. Third world countries were the easiest to invade due to their undeveloped societies and lack of economic intelligence. Countries...
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...European colonies in Africa or Asia) in lieu of direct military or political control. Such control can be economic, cultural, or linguistic; by promoting one's own culture, language or media in the colony, corporations embedded in that culture can then make greater headway in opening the markets in those countries. Thus, neocolonialism would be the end result of relatively benign business interests leading to deleterious cultural effects. Neocolonialism describes certain economic operations at the international level which have alleged similarities to the traditional colonialism of the 16th to the 20th centuries. The contention is that governments have aimed to control other nations through indirect means; that in lieu of direct military-political control, neocolonialist powers employ economic, financial, and trade policies to dominate less powerful countries. Those who subscribe to the concept maintain these amounts to a de facto control over targeted nations. What are the social phenomena neocolonialism? It is a set of political, economic, social and colonial arrangements or systems which continue to exist in a society, managed and controlled by little local property-ruling class on behalf of their corresponding foreign property-ruling class. The arrangement is a phenomenon which is heavily imposed on the majority of the people who remain poor, unemployed, low income-earned, unskilled, and uneducated. These arrangements designate a continuation of colonialism wherein the majority...
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...how surplus was drawn from Africa to develop capitalism in the metropolitan sector. “Colonialism was not merely a system of exploitation but one whose essential purpose was to repatriate the profit to the so called mother land” [page 177].It means that the development of Europe as a part of the same dialectical process which Africa was Underdeveloped. African labourwas cheap. The employer often required more from the worker but paid him less not even enough to maintain his physical self. This was not the case in Europe when feudalism gave way to capitalism. Employers paid their employees a living wage. Wages paid to workers in Europe and North America was far higher than that of Africans. The Africans were discriminated from occupying official positions and even when they did they were paid less compared to the wages of the European officials. This chapter’s main point is to explain how much greater was the exploitation of African workers. Walter Rodney’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa Part 4-6 The fourth chapter is entitled Europe and the Roots of African underdevelopment to 1885. It evaluates the European slave trace as a dominant factor in African underdevelopment, all in the interest of European capitalism. Further, a penetrating discuss on the advancement of Europe technology as against that of Africa which is stagnant (this culminating into a distorted economy) was evaluated. Again, the continuing political/military development in Africa from about 1500 to 1885 was...
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...NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE CODE:POL 122 COURSE TITLE:INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN POLITICS POL 122 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN POLITICS COURSE GUIDE POL 122 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN POLITICS Course Writer/Developer Mr. Sikiru Lanre Nurudeen Department of Political Science and Conflict Resolution Al – Hikmah University, Ilorin Kwara State Course Editor Prof. M. Olarotimi Ajayi Faculty of Social Sciences Covenant University Otta Course Coordinator Mr. Abdul-Rahoof A. Bello National Open University of Nigeria ii POL 122 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN POLITICS NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island Lagos Abuja Office No. 5 Dar es Salaam Street Off Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse II, Abuja Nigeria e-mail: centralinfo@nou.edu.ng URL: www.nou.edu.ng Published by National Open University of Nigeria Printed 2009 ISBN: 978-058-415-3 All Rights Reserved iii POL 122 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN POLITICS CONTENTS PAGE Introduction ………………………………………….…………… 1 Course Aims ……………………………………………………… 1 Course Objectives ………………………………………………... 1 Working through Course……………………………………. This 2 Course Materials………………………………………………….. 2 Study Units………………………………………………………. . 2 Text books and References……………………………………….. 3 Assessment File…………………………………………………… 3 Tutor-Marked Assignment ……………………….. ……………… 4 iv POL 122 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN POLITICS Final Examination Grading…………………………………...
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...GEO 3106 Producing Africa: Take – Home Exam 1) The ‘real Africa’ is presumed to be filthy and miserable (Wainaina, 2005). Discuss. Representations of Africa in a global context have been largely negative, often presumed to be one country the continent is stigmatised as backwards, disease ridden, violent and in need of Western assistance. Although some positive imagery does emerge from Africa including that associated with Comic Relief, corporate campaigns such as Guinness’s stylish philosophy and in music videos like ‘Am I wrong’ by Nico and Vinz, Africa is subject to the use and re-use of negative imagery resulting in prominent stereotypes shaping our geographical imaginations of the continent. This is a similar concept to that of orientalism explored by Edward Said (1987). This essay will argue that presumptions of the ‘real Africa’ are largely negative, discussing how ‘Africanism’ and stereotypes of the continent are heavily influenced by colonial representations of people and place arguing that these assumptions are highly compatible with Western domination and power rooted in imperial attitudes. Jan Pieterse (1992:75) recognises that Africa has been depicted as the ‘Dark Continent’ plagued by stereotypes ‘which colonialism would build on and elaborate’. Imaginaries of childlike, savage, inhumane distant others who are dependent upon Western help dominate the way in which Africa is perceived. Campbell and Power (2010) suggest that a dominant scopic regime shapes...
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...COURSE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS LECTURER Mr. CHIPAIKE DUE DATE 03 MARCH 2014 QUESTION CHINESE RESOURCE DIPLOMACY IS DETRIMENTAL TO LONG TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA.DISCUSS COMMENTS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................................................................................................................... Since the Tang Dynasty, Chinese activity in Africa has been seen and has grown exponentially in the past decade. China’s enhanced role within the global economy has profound political implications across the world, but takes a particular form in Africa. Recently, there has been an ongoing move by the Chinese to tap in and secure natural resources in Africa through the Chinese-African trade and diplomatic relations. Though its growing interest in Africa has resulted in huge capital flows into the continent and increased exports of natural resources from Africa, it is the purpose of this paper to determine if this relationship is creating shared prosperity for both countries. It is also vital to outline the contexts of African crisis and Chinese expansionisms. The paper also tries to explain how Chinese renewed interest in the continent has been manifested and provides an analysis of its main effects. However, though Chinese involvement in Africa is subject to debate...
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...from international relations (IR)? * Explain the significant relationship between comparative politics and IR. Give an example. 2) What a hypothesis? * Give an example. 3) What is a dependent variable? * Give an example 4) What is an independent variable? * Give an example 5) What are the three methods used to test hypotheses in comparative political analysis? Be able to explain each and note the costs and benefits of each. 6) Know the difference between empirical and normative studies. 7) Know the distinctions between the three types of pre-colonial societies that we discussed in class. * Acephalous societies * State societies * Empires * Know the differences of each. Pay attention to the details. 8) Colonialism – Why was Europe successful in colonizing the non-Western world? 9) What was the Maxim Gun? * How was it different than earlier machine guns? * What impact did it have on European colonization? 10) Who were the big players? * Latin America * Asia * Africa * Describe “the scramble for Africa” 11) What are the three Gs? * Gold * The Age of Mercantilism * Why did nations seek commercial expansion? The results? * What is comparative advantage? * God * In what ways did Europeans believe they were different than natives? * Why and how did colonizers try to convert natives? * What was the education system like? * Explain “rule...
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...Globalization and neoliberalism has had on culture and development in African societies. Within Africa lies various intricate backgrounds from its colonialism roots to the shift towards globalization in the effort to promote development. Exposing the dynamics of globalization as well as its impact on African societies will lead to a better understanding of the relationship between Africa and the international community. Globalization, as defined by Held et al. , sees the issue “as a process (or set of processes) which embodies a transformation in the spatial organization of social relations and transactions--assessed in terms of their extensity, intensity, velocity and impact--generating transcontinental or interregional flows and networks of activity, interaction and the exercise of power.” (Held et al. 2004: 68), It involves the increased interaction between nations and the exchange of ideas, practices, relations and organization. (Ritzer 2008:574). One must be aware that the theory of globalization can be expressed through economic terms as well as sociologically. The effects of globalization is widespread throughout different societies and advocates homogeneity and can sometimes be referred as Mcdonalization. (Ritzer 2008:584). Globalization also relates similarly to the idea of neoliberism which Ritzer defines as “ [involving a combination of the political commitment to individual liberty… which is devoted to the free market and opposed to state...
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...Nationalism raged in Africa as an outcome of white rule and colonization of the native African’s land of which Zambia is not an exception. Africans were in pursuit of uniting all of Africa with black solidarity and eventually self- governing rule. Those who sought that were called Pan-Africanists and started their revolt with protests and by reminding Africans with liberating sparks of freedom in slogans and ideas such as “Africa for the Africans”.PanAfricanist believed that Africa had a glorious past and that Africans had deeply influenced Western civilization. All of this talk and liberating actions prided Africans to join in their own movement, but was of course met by struggles and challenges.Therefore, this academic essay aims at discussing the impact of nationalism towards Zambian culture. In order to achieve this, the essay will begin by giving brief explanation on Zambian culture as well as Nationalism and thereafter stretch negative and positive impact of nationalism on this culture. Zambia’s contemporary culture is a blend of values, norms, material and spiritual traditions of more than 73 ethnically diverse people. It is believed that most of the tribes of Zambia moved into the area in a series of migratory waves a few centuries ago. They grew in numbers and many travelled in search of establishing new kingdoms, farming land and pastures. Culture comes in many forms and shapes that are constantly evolving. One way of thinking about culture is as “an iceberg sticking...
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...appreciation of other cultures? 2. How does religion impact the development of cultures? 3. How has the process of “modernization” affected Africa? 4. How has conflict affected Africa? 5. How do the cultures of sub-Saharan Africa impact the global community? 6. What are the core beliefs of Animism? 7. How have Animist beliefs affected sub-Saharan Africa? 8. What events, figures, and processes impacted Africa from imperialism through independence? 9. What issues currently affect Africa? 10. What internal conflicts have shaped the development of Africa? 11. What factors influence Africa’s position in the global community? Textbook Pages: * Nationalism in Africa: pgs 828-830 * Independence in Africa: pgs 986-995 Lesson: Day One: 1. Quiet Question: Type Two Prompt---You are to choose ONE political cartoon from the following six to examine and respond to. Reflection Questions: a) What is the cartoonist’s point about imperialism? How do you know this? b) Provide a minimum of THREE different examples or reasons from your imperialism notes that support the cartoonist’s point. Caption: “Thus colonize the English” 2. Pair-Share: Turn to your partner and share your political cartoon analysis. Make notes next to the different cartoons. Then with your partner, answer this Type Two Prompt---What is the message on imperialism that all the political cartoonists are arguing? Based upon all that we have learned...
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...Seenarine, in quoting Sacks explains that, ‘the value of women’s productive labor, in producing and processing food established and maintained their rights in domestic and other spheres – economic, cultural, religious, social, political, etc.’ The advent of the British colonialism and the settler economy negatively impacted Kikuyu women because the loss of land meant a loss of access to and authority over land. Kikuyu women found that they no longer had the variety of soils needed to grow indigenous foodstuffs. Traditionally, certain pieces of land were associated with the growth of certain crops. Thus the variety of soils was required to ensure food security . Moreover, land loss meant women were restricted to smaller tracts of land for cultivation. Continuous cultivation of these areas of land led to soil exhaustion and nutrient depletion which ultimately adversely affected crop yields. Land alienation reduced the economic independence enjoyed by women by compromising their economic productivity. As colonialism continue to entrench itself in African soil, the perceived importance of women’s agricultural contribution to the household was reduced as their vital role in food production was overshadowed by the more lucrative male-controlled cash crop cultivation. Secondly, colonialism...
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...Task Task: Motorcycle Diaries Question Two: Define Communism. Discuss its origins and how and where it was spread. In your discussion you must refer to at least 3 countries, which have adopted communism and examine its success and failures and the reason behind both. You must also examine the role Marxism plays in Communist ideology. Communism is an economic and social system in which all, or nearly all, property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society and not by individual citizens. It’s an ideology theory of government where all wealth is shared equally so there is no class system, that is, no poor class and no wealthy class. Everything is shared and everyone is equal, whether you’re a doctor or a factory worker. In such a communist society, the wealth and resources were to be regulated according to the needs, abilities and contribution of the people. Differences between manual and intellectual labour and between rural and urban life were to disappear, opening up the way for unlimited development of human potential. Based on the 1848 publication ‘Communist Manifesto’ by two German political philosophers, Karl Max and his close associate Friedrich Engels, it envisaged common ownership of all land and wealth and the withering away of the power of the state. Max and Engels believed that capitalism (private ownership of all property) should be diminished and that uneven distribution of wealth and resources should be diminished as well. This belief...
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...Silk Road is an entity that is connecting the Europe and China during the middle ages. The same, for centuries, industries and people have been investing in enterprises and venture in other countries. If truth be told, there are number of characteristics of the contemporary wave of globalization are parallel to those existing before the occurrence of the First World War in 1914. Brecher et al. try to conceptualize the roots of the alternative globalization movement by giving an account of how different counter movements in the second half of the twentieth century, more specifically from the early 1970s onwards, first realized that trans border solidarity was necessary if they wished to further their own agendas in the global political economy. Origins of Globalizations absorb generally on very old...
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