Summary:
The article is talking about if Africa had been led to an abnormal direction of specialized commodities by European colonization. The rose in the product volume of export was because European colonized interior Africa. Even the colonial system replaced slavery, European still used “forced labour schemes” (Frankema), but this caused export in Africa getting to the peak. Europe’s industrialization, technological innovation and free trade policies reduced the costs of colonization and increased the export of African goods.
Surprisingly, according to the graph, the terms of trade increased obviously from 1800 to 1882, but after about 1880, the export decreased dramatically which reached the level of 1800. There are two opposite opinions on this situation. Some people think European colonization blocks Africa's traditional manufacture industry and diversity. Others think that helps Africa involved in global trade, develop technology and skill. Now, China helps Africa build infrastructure, and Africa also exports their resources and goods to China. These two countries build a good economic interaction. If the history will be repeated is still undecided because the situation is different now.
Analysis:
After I read this article, I think European colonization was more harmful than beneficial. As a colony, Africa could only produce the commodities which were European colonial power required. Such as palm oil, gum, ivory, gold, hides, and skins. This made Africa have a single economic structure, more relied on colonial power’s demand, and gave up the local market. The single industrial structure makes it difficult for Africa to develop its economy in an all-round and rapid way. The single economy causes economic backwardness and slow development of Africa. Furthermore, although the abnormal industrialization provided Africa with advanced technology and skills, it destroyed the local traditional industry like agriculture. Besides, colonial power used a large amount of local resources: mineral resources and damaged the environment, but they just paid few money to numerous forced laborers in Africa. Sometimes they even hurt them physically. The colonization has a far-reaching influence that is hard to recover. It leads to a situation that Africa can only develop by using cheap labor and abundant resources for many years and rely on export. Africa can not find their characteristic industry. Until now, Africa's economy is still far behind other countries.
Discussion question(s): What do you think the European colonization bring more harm or more benefit?
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