1. The New Colonialism, c
HI177 | A History of Africa since 1800
Term 2 | Week 3 | Dr Sacha Hepburn

2. A ‘New Colonialism’
Colonies as essential to post-war recovery in Europe – source of raw materials and wealth
A more assertive and ambitious colonial state emerges
Also intended to bring development and prosperity for African societies
Not always welcomed by colonial subjects who resented increased colonial interference in their lives

4. A Shift in Economic Policy
Early colonial economic policies led to ‘underdevelopment’ – extractive, exploitative economies; settler economies; African societies pulled into unequal economic relationship with Western world
Late colonialism of 1940s onwards – shift in economic thinking
Planning
Corporatist cooperation between companies and unions
State intervention
Investment in welfare and development

5. The ‘Second Colonial Occupation’
‘The Colonial Empire means so much to us that we should be prepared to assume some burden for its future. If we are unable or unwilling to do so, are we justified in retaining, or shall we be able to retain, a Colonial Empire?’ – Oliver Stanley (1945)
From mid-1940s: greater government funds were made available for colonial development
E.g Colonial Development and Welfare Bill provided £120 million - £30 million to West Africa
Boom in cash crop prices
Role of marketing boards (and resentment of African producers)

7. Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme
Initiative of British government and Unilever
Aim: to grow groundnuts (peanuts) on a large scale in Tanganyika in order to increase the production of edible oil for the British market
Wider goals: health and social welfare, promotion of scientific agriculture to Africans

8. Outcome: An overall disaster - low yields, targets for land clearance and harvest not met, transport problems, strikes, area left in ruin
Derailed train in Tanganyika at the time of the Groundnut Scheme, 1950

9. African Reactions to Rural Development
Range of projects: soil conservation, compulsory cattle dipping, crop rotation, cattle-culling
Aimed to alter peasant economies and increase productivity
European misunderstandings and insensitivity often provoked hostility – particularly enforced cattle-culling
Politicisation of peasantry and growth in anti- colonialism from late 1940s
African nationalists capitalise on growing resentment and anger

10. Legacies of (Colonial) Developmentalism
Independent African states accepted assumptions of colonial development: a universal path towards human development based on the implementation of scientific knowledge
Recast as patriotic projects, to be of benefit to African populations
Pursuit of national Development Plans
Donor funding: World Bank and International Monetary Fund
Technical assistance from Western experts and academics

11. Conclusions
Colonial economic policymaking was top-down and oriented towards the West
Colonial officials overwhelmingly focused on the interests of western corporations and settler farmers
They neglected, repressed or overtly sidelined the potential for indigenous capitalism
Post-colonial African populations continue to face the legacies of this economic history, with governments trying to achieve economic development on unequal terms