In the late 20th century, a new form of colonialism began to take root in Africa. This neocolonialism has taken many forms, but its essence is the same: African countries are exploited and controlled by outside forces, typically for the economic benefit of a few elites.
Neocolonialism has contributed to the continent’s continuing legacy of poverty. Africa is rich in natural resources, but its people are among the poorest in the world. This is largely due to the fact that Africa’s resources have been and continue to be extracted by outside interests.
The independence of African countries from their European colonists in the late 1950s and 1960s marked a shift in the continent’s political leadership. Nevertheless, the economies of African nations remained tied to those of their former colonies, raising questions of resource control and the sovereignty of these nation-states.
In the years since independence, African nations have struggled to find their place in the global economy, often being exploited for their natural resources by outside interests. African leaders have strived to pursue policies that would spur economic development and lift their countries out of poverty, but these efforts have often been met with resistance.
Political instability and conflict have also hampered progress in many African nations. As such, the continent faces many challenges as it looks to build a better future.
Who Owns Africa? addresses the role of foreign actors in Africa and their competing interests in exploiting the resources of Africa and its people. The book explores the different ways in which foreign actors have interacted with Africa, from colonial rule to contemporary economic relationships.
It argues that foreign actors have always had a significant impact on the continent, but that their interests have often been in conflict with the interests of the African people.
The book discusses the role of the African Union in promoting African unity and protecting the interests of the continent, and argues that African countries must take control of their own resources if they are to achieve true independence.
An interdisciplinary team of scholars, all experts in African studies, has been examining the concept of colonialism from a historical and socio-political perspective. They have looked at the ways in which African societies have been impacted by colonialism, and how this has shaped the development of the continent. The team has also been investigating the ways in which the African diaspora has been shaped by the experience of colonialism.
They show how the language of investment, development aid, mutual interest, or philanthropy is used to cloak the virulent forms of exploitation on the continent, thereby perpetuating a state of neocolonialism that has left many African people poor and in the margins.
This system of exploitation continues today, as wealthy countries and multinational corporations use their power to extract Africa’s natural resources, while preventing its people from achieving economic self-sufficiency. As a result, Africa remains mired in poverty, disease, and conflict, despite the tremendous potential of its people and its land.