Introduction
Colonialism refers to the domination of one state by another on the grounds of state power being seized by a foreign power. First, colonialism seeks to obtain political domination in the host state. The second phase constitutes exploitation of the state being colonized. From the context of African colonialism, this phenomenon took place between the 1800s to the late 1900s. Colonialism is an ally of imperialism, a phenomenon that is a direct result of the latter. However, not all imperialism constitutes colonialism. Looking back at history, there are several factors that ushered in the concept of colonialism. One major factor was the evolution of the modes of production in Europe. Due to the industrial revolution, a new process of production was introduced.
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This revolutionary move presented a fundamental need for raw materials as European nations strived to invest their accumulated capital. This inevitably led to the colonization of African states. This research paper strives to dissect some of the impacts that colonialism and its all imperialism had on the economic development of African states. To better understand this, the paper is divided into different headings. First, it looks at the reasons and strategies used in the colonization of Africa. Then it broadly looks at the impacts of colonialism on Africa’s economic development.
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What Necessitated the Colonization of Africa?
The first factor that necessitated colonization in Africa was the industrial revolution which sparked prompt changes in the technological and socio-economic realms in Europe. This revolution increased production as industries became more efficient. However, agriculture was not able to satisfy the huge demands of industries that required raw materials. This meant that European powers had to source raw materials outside their territories to fulfil the demands in their industries. The other problem was the urban population which was growing at an enormous rate. This created another problem involving how to feed this population in the urban centres. There was also the need for a market for the finished products which were manufactured by the European powers (Manning, 1974). Africa was an ideal market for these products which were produced at a faster rate through the appropriation of technology.
Industrialists also made huge profits and at a faster rate. The reason was that they were paying their workers very low wages. This meant that they made more than they could invest. Imperialism emerged from this phenomenon. As the overlords sought ways to invest their under-utilized capital. The end result was that Europe set out to seek raw materials for her factories and manpower for her plantations and mines. European merchants went further and sought to eliminate African middlemen in the quest to make more profits for Europe. Their main goal was to supervise African production, this inevitably resulted in conflict between the African chiefs and the colonialists. As they strived to take full control of the African economy, the conflicts escalated. The situation escalated to a point where colonialists had to take total control of the economy and direct it so as to obtain the raw materials that they needed so much (Modernity, 2013). The same applied to the political administration so that they yielded absolute power against the African economy.
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Colonialism Impact in Africa
A critical analysis of the impacts of colonialism in Africa points to the under-development of many spheres of life. First, there are those who argue that colonization of Africa had positive impacts in areas such as education and western civilization. But this is only a superficial argument that does not look at the broader scope. Part of African underdevelopment can be attributed to the shallowness of colonial education and subjugation. This is because that education had not perfect background in the African context and culture, it, therefore, lacked meaningfulness in the African environment. The colonial education was literal and theoretical, lacking in technological significance or industrial application. Colonial education laid a perfect backdrop for the underdevelopment in Africa. Their main goal was to educate artisans, clerks, and inspectors. All of which was aimed at exploiting African resources. Their education was not geared towards the industrialization of Africa or technological development (The Routledge, 2016). That was not their goal in the long run. Colonial education dislodged the patterns of education in African technology.
Africans were doing a pretty great job as technologists. They were appropriating the locally available materials and resources to improve their way of life. The colonial education led Africans to disown their technological skills in pursuit of writing and reading. This laid a perfect backdrop for the underdevelopment in African states. Since colonial education was not rooted in the African environment and culture, it failed to fulfil technological and economic development.
Colonialism Distorted African Economy
Colonialism had a negative impact on the African economy. First, the colonialists dislodged markets, production of goods, social amenities, transport, and traders. This was done through the division of labour at the international level. All this worked to the disadvantage of the Africans. Africans played the role of producing raw materials and were discouraged from manufacturing goods. Africans were only allowed to venture into processing industries that prepared raw materials for export into European countries (Heldring & Robinson, 2017).
To put matters into perspective, Africans produced raw materials which were bought at a low price. On the other hand, manufactured goods were very expensive. This inevitably impoverished Africans. Africans were also compelled to produce goods for export, which would benefit the colonialists. This meant that Africans focused on the wrong priorities by forgetting to feed the local population with the goods they needed. In the long run, Africans were faced with food shortages and were unable to cater to the growing population. As a result, the food prices escalated. Ideally, colonialism dislodged the fulfillment of local needs in the scope of food production (MASELAND, 2017).
In retrospect, Africans focused their energy on satisfying the needs of the colonial overlords. Colonialism also disorganized African trades and markets which were present. These markets and trades had been put in place to facilitate the needs of the local population. But the colonialist introduced a different way of life and other needs. Therefore, traditional markets and trades were rendered useless. This affected the African model of development and growth from an economic perspective. Colonialists disrupted the progressive growth of the African economy. They introduced the African economy into the global economy without creating room for the internal dynamics to flourish within the African context. This premature integration into the world economy was based on the export-import orientation (Mohan, 1978). The forces of production were not given room to advance and through this hijacking process, the colonialists were the ones benefitting while the African economy was suffering. This premature introduction meant that the African economy could not withstand the shocks emanating from the international market. As a result, African economies are perpetual debtors due to trade imbalance and the comparative advantage that colonists enjoy.
The lack of organic connection between the industries abroad and the raw materials produced in Africa meant that Africa could not advance. Mainly because of the lack of multiplier and accelerator effects that boost economic development. All this can be attributed to the export-import model that colonialism introduces. The industrial sector abroad and the agricultural sector in Africa had no connection. The surplus profits which were acquired in Africa were not pumped back into the economy, thus creating deficits in the African economy. This created a propensity for Africans to constantly import from developed nations, instead of relying on their own goods.
Conclusion
Colonists acquired colonies in Africa for their own selfish interests. As mentioned earlier, their main goal was to search for raw materials and new markets for their industries. Their industries produced goods at a fast rate and this necessitated the need for new markets. As a result of the industrial revolution, the colonialists needed to provide food for the escalating numbers in the urban population. They, therefore, made their way to Africa where they sought raw materials for their industries. This presented major problems for the African economy. The dual economic structure created a scenario where Africans were reliant on the colonial overlords for their manufactured goods. The dislodged way of life in different spheres created multiple problems for the African economy. This applied to areas such as transport, economy, education, market, and trade (Bandeira Jerónimo, 2018).
The situation escalated to a point where colonialists had to take total control of the economy and direct it so as to obtain the raw materials that they needed so much. The same applied to the political administration so that they yielded absolute power against the African economy. Colonialism also disorganized African trades and markets which were present. These markets and trades had been put in place to facilitate the needs of the local population. But the colonialist introduced a different way of life and other needs. Therefore, traditional markets and trades were rendered useless. This affected the African model of development and growth from an economic perspective.
Colonialists disrupted the progressive growth of the African economy. They introduced the African economy into the global economy without creating room for the internal dynamics to flourish within the African context. This premature integration into the world economy was based on the export-import orientation. The forces of production were not given room to advance and through this hijacking process, the colonialists were the ones benefitting while the African economy was suffering. This premature introduction meant that the African economy could not withstand the shocks emanating from the international market. As a result, African economies are perpetual debtors due to trade imbalance and the comparative advantage that developed nations have.
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