Summary of Lecture 4: Colonial State (Part 1) – State and Politics in Africa

1. Overview

• Examines the origins, development, and conquest of colonial states in Africa.
• Focuses on the theoretical framework of colonial situations as complex power systems.
• Covers the conceptualization of colonies, the role of trading posts, and the process of discovery and conquest.
• Emphasizes the gradual European expansion, the Berlin Conference, modes of conquest, and resistance.
• Highlights the shift from exploration to colonization, with key historical milestones and mechanisms.

2. Core Concepts & Key Elements

• Colonial Situation (Balandier, 1951): totality of intertwined power relations between colonial and colonized societies.
• Idea of Colony (Crawford Young, 1994): projection of European state onto conquered territories; defining the "other" as foreign and subjugated.
• Evolution of "colony": from antiquity, Roman, Irish, to African contexts; linked to commercial development and state power.
• Trading posts: commercial, diplomatic, military functions; examples include Saint-Louis, Gorée, Assinie, Grand-Bassam.
• Territorial definition of colonies: settlement-based or annexation-based; serve as footholds for conquest.
• European motivations for colonization: trade growth, anti-slavery efforts, strategic interests.
• Exploration institutions: African Association (1788), Société de géographie de Paris (1821); promoted exploration and exoticism.
• Exploration phases: from individual journeys (Livingstone) to professional expeditions; shift towards militarization.
• Exploration chronology: Niger/West Africa (late 18th c.), Southern Africa, Nile sources, Congo Basin (1880s).
• Conquest process: gradual inland expansion; often opportunistic, not strategically planned.
• Berlin Conference (1885): established principles for partitioning Africa; free navigation, spheres of influence, effective control.
• Modes of conquest: military, treaties, uprisings; resistance varied from 1880–1920.
• Speed of conquest factors: medical advances, artillery, decline of African empires.
• Phases of colonization: competition (1870–1885), regulated conquest (1885–1900), pacification (1900–1920), institutionalization (1920–1960).
• Resistance types: primary resistance (wars, revolts), latent resistance (uprisings, grassroots movements).
• Post-1920s: relative calm, rise of nationalist movements, conflicts in unindependent regions.

3. High-Yield Facts

• Colonial situation: a "total system" of interwoven social and power relations.
• Definition of colony: territory with permanent European settlement or annexation without settlement.
• Trading post functions: commercial (gold, ivory, slaves, rubber), diplomatic, military.
• Key exploration institutions: African Association (1788), Société de géographie (1821).
• Exploration shift: from individual explorers (Livingstone) to professional, militarized expeditions.
• Major exploration milestones: Niger/West Africa (late 18th c.), Nile sources (mid-19th c.), Congo Basin (1880s).
• Treaties (post-1885): over 200 treaties among Europeans; many with African authorities.
• Berlin Conference outcomes: no reserved zones, spheres of influence, effective control, recognition of Congo Free State.
• Conquest speed factors: medical advances, artillery, decline of African empires.
• Resistance examples: Zulu wars, Ashanti wars, Maji Maji rebellion.
• Resistance phases: active (1880–1900), latent (1920–1945), post-1945 rise of nationalist movements.
• Key dates: 1885 Berlin Conference, 1900–1920 pacification period, 1920–1960 institutionalization.

4. Summary Table

5. Mini-Schema (ASCII)

Colonial State
 ├─ Theoretical Framework
 │   └─ Colonial situation as totality
 ├─ Idea of Colony
 │   └─ Projection of European state; "other"
 ├─ Trading Posts
 │   └─ Commercial, diplomatic, military roles
 ├─ Discovery & Exploration
 │   └─ Institutions: African Association, Société de géographie
 │   └─ Phases: individual to professional
 ├─ Conquest & Expansion
 │   └─ Gradual inland expansion
 │   └─ Factors: medical, artillery, empire decline
 ├─ Berlin Conference (1885)
 │   └─ Principles: free navigation, spheres of influence
 ├─ Modes of Conquest
 │   └─ Military, treaties, uprisings
 ├─ Resistance & Rebellion
 │   └─ Wars, revolts, grassroots
 └─ Phases of Colonization
     └─ Competition, regulation, pacification, institutionalization

6. Rapid-Review Bullets

• The colonial situation is a complex system of interwoven power relations.
• A colony can be settlement-based or annexation-based territory.
• Trading posts served commercial, diplomatic, and military functions.
• European exploration was driven by commerce, Christianity, civilization, and science.
• Institutions like the African Association promoted exploration in the 18th century.
• Exploration shifted from individual journeys to professional expeditions in the 19th century.
• Major exploration areas: Niger, Nile, Congo; from late 18th to 19th centuries.
• The Berlin Conference (1885) formalized principles for partitioning Africa.
• European treaties with African authorities increased rapidly after 1885.
• Conquest was rapid, aided by medical advances, artillery, and empire decline.
• Resistance included wars (Zulu, Ashanti) and revolts (Maji Maji).
• Phases: unregulated competition, regulated conquest, pacification, institutionalization.
• Resistance transitioned from active wars to grassroots uprisings and nationalist movements.
• By 1900, almost all of Africa was under European control, completed by 1900–1920.