independent africa Flashcards
ideologies
The set of ideas that a person has in terms of problems and solutions is an ideology. These ideas usually centre on forms of government (democracy, one-party state etc.) and economic systems (capitalism, socialism etc.).
african nationalists
People who believed that Africans should rule themselves and thus fought against colonial rule. E.g.) Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Patrice Lumumba of the Congo
colonial powers
powerful European countries who colonised various parts of Africa. These parts were made into countries (often with arbitrary borders) by these powers and these countries became colonies.
colonialism
A system whereby a powerful country uses its economic and social power to take over a weaker country.
empire
all of a colonial power’s colonies.
year of africa
1960
17 countries, former colonies, gained their independence in 12 months.
wind of change’ (African nationalism) swept across Africa - by 1980, only four African states were not self-governed.
belgium rule in congo
under king leopold- barbaric + cruel
congo under rule of belgium
king leopold ll- barbaric and cruel- based purely on profit
the enslavement and murder of millions of Congolese under the guise of ‘a civilising and Christian mission’
high taxes, forced labour and paternalism, direct rule, encouraged inter-tribal divisions and very few secondary schools with no tertiary or higher education for native Congolese.
how was africa drawn into the cold war
foreign intervention
african countries gain independence and become sites of conflict for the 2 superpowers who wanted to expand their respective spheres of influence (influence economically, diplomatically, militarily)
external powers competed in africa by providing aid and seeking trade alliances (lengthening conflicts and making them more deadly)
China’s involvement with Africa
China identified itself with the developing world
Tan-Zam railway linking zambian copper belt to port of dar-es-salaam in tanzania
US interests in Africa
concerned with stopping spread of communist influence in Africa and promoting a capitalist agenda that protected trade routes
british colonisation
indirect rule
appointed chiefs as gov agents to enforce laws and collect taxes
french/belgian/portugese colonisation
direct rule
administration done by europeans, africans can achieve a certain level of education and prosperity, could become citizens of mother country (country of colonists) + vote
economic effects of colonisation
subsistence farming replaced by commercial cash crop farming (if cash crop fails- no food or income)
fertile land expropriated and given for settlers
taxes introduced to force farmers to grow cash crops or become migrant workers
secondary industries + technical skills underdeveloped
transport systems developed only to support export
economy of colony dependent on metropole
metropole
the parent state of a colony
social effects of colonisation
scientific racism/eugenics/social darwinism practiced to “civilise’ africans
new social structures to ensure paternalistic relationship (master-servant relationship)
christianity introduced (supposedly- my opinion)
primary education introduced (incomplete education)
medical,social, welfare services provided but inadequate
urbanisation + subsequent destruction of ethnic identity
the wind of change
1960-british prime minister harold macmillian stated in SA that “the wind of change is blowing through this continent. whether we like it or not , this growth of national consciousness is a political fact”
how did african countries become independent
- decline of colonial powers ( economies of superpowers drained by world wars- too economically weak to maintain empires ) - Eurocentric theory
- growth of african nationalism (unity + efforts of africans forced colonisers to leave ) -afrocentric theory
-impact of cold war
superpowers promoted/supported end of colonialism - wanted to establish own areas of influence in newly independent countries
how was independence realised in africa
economic reforms and systems introduced
new states promote economic development and industrialisation, introducing african socialism or capitalism
african socialism
share country’s economic resources in a traditional african way
reflect varied needs of country
pre colonial africa’s communal values + absence of class should form identity
main themes: african identity, economic development, class formation and social control
african socialism examples
- julius nyerere tanzania - collectivisation, economic self reliance
-kwame nkrumah ghana - greater civil service , large scale gov spending on public projects
-mozambique- nationalisation, collectivisation,one party gov, banning of private business
-zambia - humanism, mixed economy, combo of socialism + capitalism
capitalism
foreign investment, economic ties w west
enriches some, impoverishes others
democracy
multi parties
elections
opposition parties allowed to operate freely
one - party states
dictatorship
legacy of colonial rule
creates unity + avoids ethnic divisions
abuse of power
vanguard
