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North-South Relations Theory

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North-South Relations Theory
This section will explain the two theories that have been used and how it relates to the theme of this study. The essence of this study is to determine how the British colonial system impacted on the indigenous socio-political system of the Igbo people of Southern Nigeria. Firstly, there will be a clear explanation of the usefulness of the theories of Imperialism and North-South relations to this study, followed by a subtle correlation with the theme of the study and finally how it applies here.
Regarding to the subject matter which is the effect of the British colonial system on the indigenous socio-political system of another entity (so to speak); there are conceptual variables to consider which includes colonialism/imperialism, North/South
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North-South relations as conceived by Doty (1996) pertain to issues that “(...) have been characterized by practices that have been implicated in the production of meanings and identities” (p.2). “The colonial situation manufactures colonialists, just as it manufactures the colonized" (Memmi, 1965, (p.56). Also, according to Doty (1996), these practices created new meanings and identities for both the colonizer and the colonized as both interacted and attempted to either influence or react to being influenced. "In the process of attempting to formulate policy, resolve problems, and come to terms with various issues, subjects and objects themselves have been constructed" (Doty, 1996, p.2). For Said (2000) colonization manufactures new identities for all parties involved in it be it the colonized or the colonizer and at the same time as people are able to design historical conditions so also these people are designed by these conditions. In all, both Said (2000), Memmi (1965) and Doty (1996) agrees that identities emerge from the interaction between North and South, though Said (2000) went further with the opinion that as people create historical situations, such situations also create …show more content…
The Igbos who lived in a traditional society had to cope with new capitalist avenues for acquisition of wealth and status; "some of these avenues included educational attainment, colonial service and success in new business opportunities" (Njoku, 2006, p.58). Whereas on the side of the British colonial system, administrative positions like Governor General, District officer etc. were created to lord it over the ‘natives’.
Kortright (2003) clearly explained the basic idea of the two different identities that do emerge in a North-south relation when this opinion was proffered that; the colonial world is really a Manichean world, there is that of the native village and that of the settler’s village. Between these two worlds are the policeman and the soldier, they are the true officials and liaisons of the colonial system. The dividing lines between these two separate worlds are the barricades, barbed wire and police stations (p.9)
This mirrors the world of the British colonial system in Igbo land. It will be logical to assume that based on the argument of the theory of North-South relations, the conquest/exploitation

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