The fragmentation of Africa into modern nation-states is a consequence of the 19th-century scramble for the continent by European powers. This process, driven primarily by economic interests and imperial ambitions, resulted in arbitrary boundaries that divided indigenous communities, disregarded ethnic and cultural ties, and often exacerbated existing tensions. The carving up of Africa was a product of colonial powers’ arbitrary decisions, made without consideration for the complex realities of the continent or the aspirations of its people. Rather than reflecting organic geopolitical divisions, these boundaries were drawn haphazardly, often based on the mere convenience of colonial administrators or the desire to exploit resources. Consequently, many African nations inherited deeply entrenched problems of governance, identity, and conflict, stemming from the artificial imposition of colonial borders. The legacy of this arbitrary division continues to shape political, social, and economic dynamics across the continent, hindering efforts towards regional integration, development, and stability. Thus, the statement that “Africa was chopped into States artificially created by accidents of European competition” succinctly captures the enduring impact of colonialism on the African continent.
Tags: History of the world.
Decoding the Question:
- In Introduction, try to briefly discuss how Africa was colonized and scrambled.
- In Body, show how different European countries played their part in creating situations where Africa was chopped into States artificially.
- In conclusion, write about the aftermath of this divide and the European competition.
Answer:
From the 1800s, European countries began to take control of coastal areas in Africa, like French Algeria, the British Cape Colony in modern-day South Africa. Yet by 1880, only small areas of the African continent were under European rule.In European power politics, Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain were competing among themselves. One way to demonstrate national preeminence was through the acquisition of territories around the world, including Africa.
Factors Leading to the Chopping of African States:
- France after 1830, Germany after 1850 and the U.S. after the Civil War soon started industrialisation. By 1850, the Industrial Revolution had been accomplished, with industries becoming a dominant factor in British life as well. The effect of the Industrial Revolution was felt worldwide.
- Many European countries had by now started following the Policy of Mercantilism. Under this policy, governmental control was exercised over industries and trade. It was based on the theory that more exports and less import indicated national strength.
- Africa was rich in mineral resources, had an abundance of cheap/free labour, and it was easy to conquer and hence, the race to acquire the territories began.
- This race to occupy territory would often result in wars, and the territory would be divided between the victors. War was time consuming and costly, and thus, to avoid wars the Europeans came up with a strategy to sign agreements and divide the territories between themselves.
- By the end of the nineteenth century, the chopping off of the African States was complete.
Division of the African Territories:
- After Belgium captured Congo in 1878, other Europeans met in Berlin to divide the territories within their influence. By the end of the 1870s, France and Britain were already on the march in Western Africa. Britain colonized Nigeria, France got Morocco, Portugal got Angola, and the U.S. founded Liberia.
- In Eastern Africa, Britain captured Kenya, Germany captured Cameroons, French got Madagascar, and Italy received Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia. After World War I, Germany was defeated and the areas under its control were divided between the victor powers.
- In Southern Africa, the Dutch settled in South Africa for its strategic location, proximity to ports, and availability of gold. Soon, the Dutch lost to Napoleon, and eventually, it came under British control. An English explorer, Cecil Rhodes, founded Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe and Zambia) by exploring and establishing his influence in the region.
- In Northern Africa, the French and the English forces were fighting for territories. Eventually, Algeria and sub-Saharan Africa were under France’s control, the English controlled Egypt and Sudan, and Italy was given Libya and Tunisia.
The clear evidence that the division of the African States was through accidents can be seen in their boundaries, which are primarily in straight lines, as they have been marked in a paper in Berlin. The European scramble to partition and occupied African territory is often treated as a peripheral aspect of the political and economic rivalries developed between the new industrial nations in Europe itself.
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