Chapter 6 Section 4

Chapter 6 Section 4 “Geopolitical Framework: Legacies of Colonialism & Conflict”

COLONIAL LEGACY… • “The arrival of Europeans in Africa changed that continent forever.” (HWQ#1) • Europeans instituted policies that in some cases worsened tensions between existing tribal/ethnic groups; • They drew arbitrary political boundaries that either created or worsened pre-existing conflicts; • Imperialism attributed to struggles over national identity & political control among ethnic groups. • Africa is considered to be the place where humankind originated (discovery of fossils in Great Rift Valley) • http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-afarensis

INDIGENOUS KINGDOMS… • (HWQ#2) 3,000 yrs. Ago in central & N. Sudan – Kingdom of Nubia; • 1,000 yrs. Later – Axum rose in N. Ethiopia & Eritrea (Christian trade center); • AD 700 – Ghana, Mali, Songhai grew in the Sahel (exported gold to Med. & imported salt from Sahara);these kingdoms dominated until Imperialism began • AD 500 – West African kingdom states developed (also based on gold/salt trade).

SLAVE TRADE… • From the 1500’s to the 1800’s slave traders sent an estimated 10-15 million Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas. Referred to as the “Atlantic Slave Trade” this “triangular” trade dominated relations among Europe, Africa & the Americas. • The first African slaves were taken by Port. Traders to Europe in the 1400’s. European rulers required a large labor force to make their American colonies profitable & once Native Latin Americans died from war/famine/disease they turned to Africa to fill that labor void.

SLAVE TRADE • Although slavery had long existed in Africa, the Atlantic slave trade was different. Once slavery was introduced on a massive scale (around 1700) & demand & profits grew quickly, racism took root & was used to justify treating Africans as property rather than as human beings. • The slave trade also introduced guns to the African continent as some African rulers accepted guns as payments for their own people or for people they captured from neighboring tribes. They used the guns to establish strong states. (HWQ#3)

Ending Slave Trade • Abolition movements grew throughout Europe in the late 1700’s; Britain outlawed slavery in its empire in 1833; slavery lasted in the US until 1865. • Industrialization also helped end the demand for slave labor as machines replaced humans. Once that happened, Europeans looked to Africa for raw materials for their factories so the end of the slave trade was followed by the rush to colonize the African continent in order to take advantage of the raw materials the continent had to offer.

EFFECTS OF SLAVE TRADE • 400 years of the slave trade had lasting effects on Africa. Coastal Africa was most impacted because people in the continent’s interior were somewhat protected. • HWQ#4 – The “disease factor” in Africa was opposite to what we saw occur in Latin America. In Africa it was the Europeans who died in large numbers because of their inability to fight off malaria & other diseases endemic to Africa’s climate, insects & animals. It wasn’t until the discovery of the drug quinine (HWQ#5) in the 1800’s that Europeans were able to survive illnesses contracted in Africa.

EFFECTS OF SLAVE TRADE • Some African rulers used the guns they gained in the slave trade to strengthen trade & grow their empires; • The overwhelming effect of slavery on Africa, however, was NEGATIVE. It led to a diaspora (scattering of people) & removed an estimated 20,000,000+ Africans from their places of origin. Their disappearance had a lasting economic & social impact on Africa. • Slavery did help spread the ideas, customs & beliefs of African peoples to other regions of the world, where they had significant cultural impact (music, foods, art, religion, etc.) • The “1-2 punch” of the Atlantic slave trade followed by colonialism dealt a devastating blow to Africa that many blame for the lack of development on that continent up to the present day.

COLONIALISM IN AFRICA • HWQ#6 – Once Europeans were able to withstand African diseases & driven by the need for raw materials for their factories, they pushed to claim colonies in all parts of the continent. By the late 1800’s increasing tension among Europeans & the fear of all out war for control led to the Berlin Conference (Germany 1884). At that conference, where NO AFRICAN LEADERS WERE PRESENT, European powers agreed on how to divide Africa among themselves. As a result, by 1914 almost the entire continent was partitioned & controlled by one of several European Imperial powers. Liberia, Ethiopia & S. Africa* were the exceptions.

END OF APARTHEID • *Although S. Africa was an independent nation by 1910, remember that the British had left the white South African minority (Afrikaners who had defeated the Zulu) in charge & they officially adopted Apartheid (racial segregation) as the law of the land. • African National Congress led opposition to Apartheid within S. Africa, sometimes peacefully & sometimes with violence (Mandela, Biko, etc.) • By 1960’s attention from outside world in the form of economic embargo’s & political isolation added to the pressure to end Apartheid. • 1989 ban on ANC lifted; • 1990 Mandela freed from prison & helps re-write Constitution; • 1994 first free & open election is held & Mandela becomes Pres. HWQ#7 (DUTCH – wanted a colony; ZULU – were indigenous group so were protecting their land; BRITISH-wanted gold/diamonds. They won control BUT…see above for the rest of the story!

DECOLONIALIZATION OF SSA • HW2-Q#1PAN AFRICAN MOVEMENT – was dedicated to establishing independence for African nations and cultivating unity among black people all over the world (remember the DIASPORA caused by slavery). The movement was led by W.E.B. DuBois & Marcus Garvey & was aided by labor unions, newspapers & other black intellectuals who had studied throughout Europe. It was called a “trans-Atlantic liberation effort” • Decolonization started around 1957 & occurred rather quickly & peacefully. By the mid 1960’s the entire region was comprised of independent nations.

DECOLONIALIZATION OF SSA • Some early leaders of the new African nations wanted to see the entire region united politically. That didn’t happen, however, the ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY, established in 1963 & now called the AFRICAN UNION, remains an important continent-wide organization. Its goal is to mediate disputes between neighbors. It also played a key role in opposing & ending Apartheid in South Africa. HW#2 Q3 • Browse the African Union's web site here...

POST APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA • FOR HW2 q#4 – This was covered on slide 10. • HW2 Q#5: From his election in 1994 until he retired in 1999, Nelson Mandela worked to build a multiracial South Africa. Homelands were eliminated & residential segregation became illegal, however, most neighborhoods remained segregated. It’s very hard to erase ½ century of racial discrimination & the fact that black South Africans were not formally educated through Apartheid also made it difficult for them to obtain employment & improve their economic situation.

POST APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA • In 1999 Thabo Mbeki replaced Mandela as President. He faced many challenges including black political & economic disadvantage; tribal conflicts; AIDS – which hit South Africa very hard. Mbeki’s position on treating HIV was very controversial & may have caused the epidemic to worsen before it improved. • BBC news article on Mbeki's Aids controversy • Due to valuable natural resources & location, however, South Africa remains one of the best economies in SSA with a higher standard of living than most.

Enduring political conflict… • HW#2 Q#6 – POLITICAL INSTABILITY and TRIBAL/ETHNIC RIVALRIES continue to cause conflict in the region. In many of the new nations, rival ethnic groups found themselves sharing a national identity. New governments had to deal with imposed political boundaries & the problems that came with them because coming up with all new borders would have been impossible. • HW#2 q#7: TRIBALISM is loyalty to an ethnic group or tribe rather than to your nation/state. In some African nations tribalism is so strong that it tears apart the national unity of the country.

EFFECTS OF POST-COLONIAL CONFLICTS… • HW#2 Q#8: Because of all the post-colonial wars & conflicts in the region, (see figure 6.37 on page 257) there are many REFUGEES and INTERNALLY DISPLACED persons in SSA. • REFUGEES – people who flee their country because they fear persecution based on race, ethnicity, religion or political orientation. • INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE – basically same definition as above but they still reside in their country of origin but flee to another location in that country. • Ethnic conflicts & secessionist movements in SSA (see p. 258 & 259) have caused millions of refugees & IDP’s in the region.

BIG MAN POLITICS • HW#2 Q#9: This refers to the fact that throughout SSA’s post-colonial history there have been many men who have come into power and refused to let it go. Called “dictators” “strongmen” “presidents-for-life” these men have ruled as ruthless leaders who would not allow political freedom. Their reliance on the military & violence to maintain total control led to the “bullets over ballots” reference in your book. EXAMPLES – see p. 260 in your text if you are considering researching any of these men. Also this link… • Parade Magazine's List of the Top 10 Worst Dictators in the WorldNote that 4 of the 10 are from SSA!!

FUTURE OF THE REGION??? • Discovery of oil (Algeria, Gabon, Sudan) in various countries is a promising sign for economic growth if the resource is well-,amaged; • AIDS/HIV while still high the numbers of people infected/deaths are slowly decreasing; • Women are playing a significant role in growing the economies of developing nations as they are becoming more entrepreneurial & getting better educated & more active in politics ; • Cautious Optimism! Many problems remain…

Chapter 6 Section 4