European Colonization of Africa: Political, Social, Economic Effects - Research Paper

Introduction

European colonization of Africa had far-reaching political, social, and economic effects that led to the underdevelopment of African territories. The scramble for Africa, notably, occurred at a time when European powers were at a brink of economic depression. Europeans invaded Africa to acquire raw materials and cheap labor that would stimulate economic growth in their motherland. The invasion of Africa was also part of the European global process to reach all the continents (Davidson, 2014). As a result of European colonization, modern civilization, Christianity, and common languages were introduced to Africa. Europe underdeveloped Africa because they exploited their natural resources, repatriated their profits, and deprived them of the freedom that was essential for human social advance during the colonial period.

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Economic and Political Exploitation

European colonization perpetuated a system of exploitation that slowed down economic growth in Africa. The capitalist powers exploited natural resources and expatriated profits to their motherland nations. Rodney (1973) said that African societies were developing until Europe dominated them both politically and economically. While Africans discovered essential natural resources in their territories, colonialists deprived them of the benefits of their wealth. In Congo, for instance, the capitalist powers used one-third of the total wealth produced in any colonial year to pay salaries for the expatriate staff and profits to big businesses in Europe (Rodney, 1973). The situation was worse in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) under British rule, where one-half of the total wealth was plowed back to Europe. This phenomenon suggests that Europe is responsible for minute economic development in African countries.

European employers exploited African workers, paying them low wages that plunged Africans into extreme poverty. Rodney (1973) noted that wages paid to African workers were insufficient to keep an individual alive. This situation compelled Africans to grow food to survive despite working for wealthy European employers. To make matters worse, the colonial governments forced Africans to work in their mines and plantations to get money to pay taxes. This way, the local population had to work away from their farms since selling labor to capitalists was the only way for most of them to get money. However, European employers offered Africans the lowest possible salary since they were only responsible for the physical survival of African laborers. In this regard, the "living wage" offered to Africans increased suffering and the level of poverty, which explains underdevelopment in Africa.

Europe fuelled violence that disrupted activities that played vital roles in Africa's economic development. Forced cultivation of cotton, for instance, triggered a nationalist revolt in Angola and the Maji Maji Wars in Tanzania. Besides, the struggle between capitalist powers subjected the local population to continuous violence that disrupted essential economic activities. In East Africa, for example, the Portuguese and the British disrupted African commerce between the Gold Coast and the Ivory Coast, which had been an essential source of income for the local population (Rodney, 1973). European colonization also fuelled social stratification and antagonism between the local communities, which to date has adverse effects on African people.

European powers introduced colonial education that is responsible for the underdevelopment of Africa. The reason is that the European system of education had no technological base, and it was mainly literary. Also, it was not rooted in Africa's way of life, implying that it could not promote meaningful developments in African societies. So, Western education did not contribute to social advances because it did not match the realities of pre-colonial African society. The indigenous African education, according to Rodney (1973), had outstanding features that could promote the development of Africa. More specifically, pre-colonial African education had close links with the social life of the local population. This type of education could also promote progressive development since it matched the successive stages of psychological development of African people. The fact that colonial education eroded the indigenous system of learning that produced all-rounded personalities that fit into African societies suggest that it is responsible for today's underdevelopment of Africa.

There is evidence that some aspects of the pre-colonial education were formal contrary to claims that the capitalist powers introduced formal education to Africa (Rodney, 1973). Many African societies had educational programs where children could acquire formal skills. The Poro community of Sierra Leone, for example, had an initiation school organized into brotherhoods, where children within a clan were taught formal skills like the practice of medicine (Rodney, 1973). Moreover, there is evidence that pre-colonial education in Ethiopia, Western Sudan, and North Africa produced literate individuals that were comparable to that of Europe and Asia (Rodney, 1973). Ocheni and Nwankwo (2012) said that European education was not aimed at fostering industrialization in Africa, but rather to train artisans, produce inspectors, interpreters, and clerks to help colonialists in exploiting Africa's abundant resources

Conclusion

The capitalist powers deprived Africans of benefits from their minerals, plunging many people into abject poverty and extreme suffering. Colonialists, in this regard, repatriated profits from Africa, leaving the local population with little resources. Also, Europe exploited Africans as colonial governments forced them to work for a "living wage." Colonial education did not foster industrialization in Africa since its purpose was to train locals to help colonialists in exploiting Africa's wealth. These aspects show that Europe underdeveloped Africa.

References

Davidson, B. (2014). Modern Africa: A social and political history. New York, NY: Routledge Publishers.

Ocheni, S., & Nwankwo, B. C. (2012). Analysis of Colonialism and Its Impact in Africa. Cross- Cultural Communication, 8(3), 46-54. doi:10.3968/j.ccc.1923670020120803.1189

Rodney, W. (1973). How Europe underdeveloped Africa. London: Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications.