WHAT ARE THE MAJOR REASONS WHY SOME FORMER COLONIAL POWERS STILL CONTINUE MEDDLING IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES?
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR REASONS WHY SOME FORMER COLONIAL POWERS STILL CONTINUE MEDDLING IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES?
INTRODUCTION
In 1885 Bismarck initiated the Berlin Conference to establish international guidelines for the division of African territory amongst European countries. The Europeans used the conference formalise Africa to become a colonial possession for Europeans. The possession of African territory that is many times larger than their own made European states have a great feeling of self-esteem. Africans also made significant contribution to the struggle among the European great powers as labours. It is estimated that one million Africans of people from African descent fought for the European and their Allies in World War I and another estimated two million fought in World War II. Africa also provided a military bases and strategic area for the allied forces during that time. (Johnson 2013) The colonization of Africa was part of a worldwide drive to provide raw materials new resources and markets for Europe, usually at the expense of less developed. Africa in particular offered manpower in the form of slaves, or African natives working in their homelands under colonial occupation. The colonies provided vast new quantities of raw materials that were scarce or unavailable in Europe, and provided new markets for manufactured goods among the populations. Along with the lands, there were natives who could be forced into service to find and exploit these resources, a ready source of cheap unskilled labour. The locations of the colonies also expanded naval control over shipping and trade routes business interests. Africa has massive natural resources to exploit and that was predominantly the driving force behind deeper expansion into Africa, during the early 1900s. To make money out of Africa, Europeans used its many raw goods. They hoarded oil, ivory, rubber, palm oil, wood, cotton, and gum (for paper).
The Scramble for
INTRODUCTION
In 1885 Bismarck initiated the Berlin Conference to establish international guidelines for the division of African territory amongst European countries. The Europeans used the conference formalise Africa to become a colonial possession for Europeans. The possession of African territory that is many times larger than their own made European states have a great feeling of self-esteem. Africans also made significant contribution to the struggle among the European great powers as labours. It is estimated that one million Africans of people from African descent fought for the European and their Allies in World War I and another estimated two million fought in World War II. Africa also provided a military bases and strategic area for the allied forces during that time. (Johnson 2013) The colonization of Africa was part of a worldwide drive to provide raw materials new resources and markets for Europe, usually at the expense of less developed. Africa in particular offered manpower in the form of slaves, or African natives working in their homelands under colonial occupation. The colonies provided vast new quantities of raw materials that were scarce or unavailable in Europe, and provided new markets for manufactured goods among the populations. Along with the lands, there were natives who could be forced into service to find and exploit these resources, a ready source of cheap unskilled labour. The locations of the colonies also expanded naval control over shipping and trade routes business interests. Africa has massive natural resources to exploit and that was predominantly the driving force behind deeper expansion into Africa, during the early 1900s. To make money out of Africa, Europeans used its many raw goods. They hoarded oil, ivory, rubber, palm oil, wood, cotton, and gum (for paper).
The Scramble for
Bibliography: Fannon, F. (1963). The Wretched Earth. New York: Grove Press. Johnson, R. (2013). Out of Africa, Did Colonial Powers ever Really Leave. New York: California Press. Moolman, S. (2009). African Security Review. Pretoria: Institude for Security Studies. Rodney, W. (1973). How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Dar-Es-Salem: Bogle-L 'Ouverture Publications. Tortolani, B. (2010). Global Peace Operations. London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.