CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The British got control over Nigeria in both the hard way and the good way. In a good way, because some of the local leaders agreed to sign treaties of protection with the British and to accept British residents in Nigeria and in the hard way, because even though the local leaders signed a treaty with the British, others didn’t accept the intervention from the British and rebelled against the intervention, therefore Britain used military force to put the rebels down. Since the Nigeria was such a complex area with three large groups (the Hausa-Fulani, the Yoruba, and the Igbo), they decided to manage the area indirectly with local leaders from the three groups. This indirect management of the groups worked out well in the Hausa-Fulani, but it wasn’t so efficient in the other two groups.
THE DEFINITION OF IMPERIALISM
Imperialism is a type of advocacy of Empire. Its name originated from the Latin word "imperium", meaning to rule over large territories. Imperialism is "a policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means".Imperialism has greatly shaped the contemporary world.
The term imperialism has been applied to Western political and economic dominance in the 19th and 20th centuries, however its precise meaning continues to be debated by scholars. Some writers, such as Edward Said, use the term more broadly to describe any system of domination and subordination organised with an imperial center and a periphery. From a Marxist perspective, imperialism is a natural feature of a developed capitalist nation state as it matures into monopoly capitalism. In Lenin's work Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, he observed that as capitalism matured in the Western world, economies shifted away from manufacturing towards banking, finance, and capital markets, as production was outsourced to the empires' colonies. Lenin concluded that competition between Empire and the unfettered drive to maximize profit would lead to wars between the empires themselves, such as the contemporary First World War, as well as continued future military interventions and occupations in the colonies to establish, expand, and exploit less developed markets for the monopolist corporations of the empires.
Imperialism is defined as "an unequal human and territorial relationship, usually in the form of an empire, based on ideas of superiority and practices of dominance, and involving the extension of authority and control of one state or people over another."[2] Imperialism is a process and ideology that does not only focus on political dominance, but rather, conquest over expansion. Imperialism is particularly focused on the control that one group, often a state power, has on another group of people.[5] There are "formal" or "informal" imperialism. "Formal imperialism" is, "the physical control or full-fledged colonial rule"."Informal control" is less direct, however; it is still a powerful form of dominance. There are three waves of imperialism; Americas (North, South and the Caribbean), Asia and Africa.[3] From the fifteenth century forward, Spain and Portugal were responsible for colonizing South America. Both Spain and Portugal were soon followed by the British, French and Dutch, who gained territory in North America.[3] Britain, with the support from the East India Company, colonized Asia. Portugal, Netherlands and France also had Asian colonial possessions.[ The third wave, Africa, was described as "New Imperialism".[3] This was structured by the "Berlin Conference (1884–85), which involved the main European powers and served to divide Africa between them".
The definition of imperialism has not been finalized for centuries and was confusedly seen to represent the policies of European colonial powers, or of the United States, or of any allegedly expansionist power or simply, general-purpose aggressiveness. This confusion was caused by Lenin's theory (Leninism), which was widely persuasive. Further on, some writers used the term imperialism, in slightly more discriminating fashion, to mean all kinds of domination or control by a group of people over another. To clear out this confusion about the definition of imperialism, one could speak of "formal" and "informal" imperialism. The first meaning physical control or "full-fledged colonial rule", while the second implied less direct rule though still contains perceivable kinds of dominance.[5] Informal rule is generally less costly than taking over territories formally. This is because, with informal rule, the control is spread more subtly through technological superiority, enforcing land officials into large debts that cannot be repaid, ownership of private industries thus expanding the controlled area, or having countries agree to uneven trade agreements forcefully.[6] Some examples of formal imperialism are: British rule of the colonies in America before 1776, India (1858 – 1947), Hong Kong (1842 – 1997), and Kenya (1920 – 1963).[5] Some examples of informal imperialism are: Britain's 19th-century hegemony in Chile and Iraq,[5] or the owning of more than 70 percent of banana companies in Guatemala by the USA.[6]It is mostly accepted that modern-day colonialism is an expression of imperialism and cannot exist without the latter. The extent to which "informal" imperialism with no formal colonies is properly described remains a controversial topic amongst historians.[7] Both colonisation and imperialism have been described by Tom Nairn and Paul James as early forms of globalization:
Even if a particular empire does not have a "global reach" as we would define it today, empires by their nature still tend to contribute to processes of globalization because of the way that imperial power tends to generate counter-power at its edge-lands and send out reverberations far beyond the territories of their immediate control.[8]
The word imperialism became common in the United Kingdom during the 1870s and was used with a negative connotation.[9] In Great Britain, the word had until then mostly been used to refer to the politics of Napoleon III in obtaining favorable public opinion in France through foreign military intervention
The imperialism of the 18th and 19th centuries was conducted differently from the explorations of the 15th and 16th centuries. In the earlier period, imperial powers often did not penetrate far into the conquered areas in Asia and Africa. Nor did they always have a substantial influence on the lives of the people. Each European nation had certain policies and goals for establishing colonies. To establish control of an area, Europeans used different techniques. European rulers also developed methods of day-to-day management of a colony. Two basic methods emerged. Britain and other nations preferred indirect control.
The European colonial rule over africans brought both negative and positive effects. beginning with the bad news would be how the Africans lost control of their land and their independence. millions died because of diseases or if not of this, they were killed. they were also affected in a traditional aspect, many of their traditional authority figures were replaced. the most harmful effect was the division of Africa, many rival chiefdoms were sometimes united while others were in constant rivalry.
on the other hand, there were also some positive consequences. for example colonialism reduced local warfare, colonies improved sanitation and provided hospitals and schools. because of these benefits life-spans and literacy rate in Africa increased. to provide a way of economic stability railroads, dams, telegraph lines, and telephones were built in African colonies. this so called positive effects benefited only European business interests not Africans' lives.
CHAPTER TWO
HOW THE EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM HAS EATEN DEEPER INTO ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL SEGMENT OF NIGERIA
The British took control of Nigeria. Europeanshad a thirst to seek for more raw materials and resources that could quickly fuel the growing industrial production. So they turned their eyes to Africa. There were oposing groups,the ones who agreed and wanted their protection and rule,and the ohers who opposed and rebelled. This conquest was succesful thanks to the Royal Niger Company. This copany gined control of the palm-oil trade along he Niger River after the Berlin Conference gave Britain a protectorate over the Niger River delta. In 1914, Nigeria was claimed as a colony. In order to have everything under control and to their benefit, they had to have the people in Nigeria tamed. This task gave much trouble to the British, beacuse Nigeria was divided in about 250 different ethnic groups. All with different religion, languages, and culture. There weren't enough troops to handle the situation going on, so they sought to control indirectly. This didn't work so well either, beacuse local chiefs that were appointed by them,started to resent the limited power.The forms of imperialism used by European powers to gain control of an area. Britain aimed for the control of economic and political life of the area. British gained control of Nigeria through diplomatic and military. Basically Britain used imperialism as if it was a take over. British conquest of northern Nigeria was accomplished by the Royal Niger Company which supports them with the economic conditions since they have control of the palm-oil trade along the Niger River. British claimed the entire area of Nigeria as a colony. British ended having limited power over Nigeria because it was large and many ethnic groups lived there so for Britain to still have power but not all of it the chief made them have it limited.
Britain gained control of Nigeria through both diplomatic and military means. Some local rulers agreed to sign treaties of protection with Britain and accept British residents. However, many opposed this foreign intervention and rebelled against it. These Britians in return used force to put down and defeat these rebellions.
The British were able to conquer the northern part of Nigeria with the Royal Niger Company. The company gained control of the palm-oil trade along the Niger River after the Berlin conference gave Britain a province over the Niger River delta. In 1914, the British, however claimed the entire area of Nigeria as a colony. The Imperialism of the 18th and 19th centuries was quite different from that of the earlier 15th and 16th centuries. First of all, Imperial powers didn't penetrate very far into the conquered areas of Africa and Asia nor did they ever have great influence over the lives of the people inhabiting these regions. That would all change during these later periods where Europeans would begin demanding more influence over economic, political, and social aspects of the lives of their conquered subjects. The were determined to exploit and shape the economies of their conquered countries to benefit their own. They were also wanted the people to adopt their customs. The Europeans eventually developed 4 forms of colonial control: sphere of influence, colony, protectorate, and economic imperialism. Depending on the nation, the Europeans exercised either direct or indirect control.
A great example of European Imperialism is Britain's rule of Nigeria. Britain had acquired Nigeria through both diplomatic and military means. While some local rulers agreed to sign treaties of protection with Britain and accepted British residents, others opposed the foreign intervention and rebelled against it.
IMPERIALISM IN AFRICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD
The Europeans wanted control over Africa's land, its people, and its resources. With this in mind, they wanted to take advantage of the policy of imperialism to make their "wish come true". The Europeans so, demanded more influence over the economic, political, and social lives of the people. They wanted the economies of the country to fit that of theirs, and they wanted their customs to be adopted as well. They used the four forms of imperialism, colony, protectorate, sphere of influence, and economic imperialism, to fulfill their goals.
The British took control over Nigeria through both diplomatic and military force. Some of the rulers agreed upon this colonization, yet others, were completely against it, which was when the British military had to apply force. The British conquest was fully acquired by the Royal Niger Company, which helped it claim entire control of Nigeria. After this colonization, the Europeans wanted more, and so spread to other parts of Africa. As in Nigeria, these people tried to resist against the Europeans, but ultimately failed to do so. All except Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia, who was intelligent enough to go beyond all borders and scared and fought off the Europeans out of his nation.
PATERNALISM AND ASSIMILATION
Paternalism refers to an attitude or a policy reminiscent of the hierarchic pattern of a family based on patriarchy, that is, there is a figurehead. (literally meaning 'father like')., pater in Latin) that makes decisions on behalf of others (the "wife" and "children") for their own good, even if this is contrary to their wishes. In Nigeria, Europeans used this method because they didn't think that Africans were able to handle the complex business of running a country. Using this policy, Europeans governed people in a parental way by providing for their needs but not giving them rights. To accomplish this, the Europeans brought their own bureaucrats and did not train local people in European methods of governing.
Assimilation, or cultural assimilation is a political response to the demographic fact of multi-ethnicity which encourages absorption of the minority into the dominant culture. It is opposed to affirmative philosophy (for example, multiculturalism) which recognizes and seeks to maintain differences. The French were the ones to assume this policy in Africa.
IMPERIALISM IN AFRICA
European nations thought of Africa as a nation that was unable to govern themselves, they would never reach a level of stability or of modernization as them. They thought of Africa as a lesser people, which was why they decided to divide it among themselves. They didn’t even reason in this, they divided it how they thought it would be better for them, not for the Africans. They didn’t even care if there were two distinct cultures in the area they had control of. They did this in the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 and the Boer War. Different techniques were used in the colonization of these areas. These were indirect control and direct control. In indirect control the area is yours per say, but it keeps its ruler and doesn’t change in what is its management. The colony would then have a legislative council that would train the people in the ways of the foreign nation.Then the colony would reach a level of modernization in which they can get to govern themselves. This form was used by the United States and Britain. In direct control the colonies were forced to learn all the ways of the parent nation. They thought Africans couldn’t take proper care of the complex business of their lands. They didn’t give any rights to the Africans, not training these in European ways of governing. They also thought that this way the colony would assimilate European ways and become European. The French, for example, used direct control.
"Imperialism is a policy in which one country seekd to extend its authority by conquering other countries or by establishing economic and political dominance over other countries. The first chart below disscusses the four forms of imperialist authority, The second chart shows the two mangaement methods tha can be used to contorl an area.
FORMS OF IMPERIALISM
Form Definition Example
Colony A country or territory governed internally by a foreign power Somaliland in east africa was a Frech colony
Protectorate A country or territory w/ its own internal government but under the control of an outside power Britainestablished a protectorate over the Niger River delta
Sphere of Influence An area in which an outside power claim exclusive investment or trading privileges Liberia was under the sphere of influence of the U.S.
Economis Imperialism An independent but less-developed country controlled by private business interests rather than other governments The Dole fruit company controlled pineapple trade in Hawaii
SETTING THE STAGE
The Berlin Conference of 1884–85 was a European conference. And, although black South Africans participated in it, the Boer War was largely a European war. Europeans argued and fought among themselves over the lands of Africa. In carving up the continent, the European countries paid little or no attention to historical political divisions or to the many ethnic and language groupings in Africa. Uppermost in the minds of the Europeans was the ability to control Africa’s land, its people, and its resources. The imperialism of the 18th and 19th centuries was conducted differently from the explorations of the 15th and 16th centuries. In the earlier period, imperial powers often did not penetrate far into the conquered areas in Asia and Africa. Nor did they always have a substantial influence on the lives of the people.
During this new period of imperialism, the Europeans demanded more influence
over the economic, political, and social lives of the people. They were determined
to shape the economies of the lands to benefit European economies. They also wanted the people to adopt European customs.
FORMS OF CONTROL
Each European nation had certain policies and goals for establishing colonies. To establish control of an area, Europeans used different techniques. Over time, four forms of colonial control emerged: colony, protectorate, sphere of influence, and economic imperialism. These terms are defined and discussed in the chart on page 780. In practice, gaining control of an area might involve the use of several of these forms.
METHODS OF MANAGEMENT
European rulers also developed methods of day-today management of the colony. Two basic methods emerged. Britain and other nations—such as the United States in its Pacific Island colonies—preferred indirect control. France and most other European nations wielded a more direct control. Later, when colonies gained independence, the management method used
had an influence on the type of government chosen in the new nation.
Indirect Control; Indirect control relied on existing political rulers. In some areas, the British asked a local ruler to accept British authority to rule. These local officials handled much of the daily management of the colony. In addition, each colony had a legislative council that included colonial officials as well as local merchants and professionals nominated by the colonial governor. The assumption was that the councils would train local leaders in the British method of government and that a time would come when the local population
would govern itself. This had happened earlier in the British colonies of Australia and Canada. In the 1890s, the United States began to colonize. It chose the indirect method of control for the Philippines.
Direct Control: The French and other European powers preferred more direct control of their colonies. They viewed the Africans as unable to handle the complex business of running a country. Based on this attitude, the Europeans developed a policy called paternalism. Using that policy, Europeans governed people in a parental way by providing for their needs but not giving them rights. To accomplish
this, the Europeans brought in their own bureaucrats and did not train local people in European methods of governing. The French also supported a policy of assimilation. That policy was based on the idea that in time, the local populations would adopt French culture and become like the French. To aid in the transition, all local schools, courts, and businesses were patterned after French institutions. In practice, the French abandoned the ideal of assimilation for all but a few places and settled for a policy of “association,” which was similar to indirect control. They recognized African institutions and culture but regarded them as inferior to French culture.
A close look at Britain’s rule of Nigeria illustrates the forms of imperialism used by European powers to gain control of an area. It also shows management methods used to continue the control of the economic and political life of the area.
Gaining Control: Britain gained control of southern Nigeria through both diplomatic and military means.
Some local rulers agreed to sign treaties of protection with Britain and accepted British residents. However, others opposed the foreign intervention and rebelled against it. The British used force to put down and defeat these rebellions. British conquest of northern Nigeria was accomplished by the Royal Niger Company. The company gained control of the palm-oil trade along the Niger River after the Berlin Conference gave Britain a protectorate over the Niger River delta. In 1914, the British claimed the entire area of Nigeria as a colony.
Managing the Colony
In this new age of imperialism, it was necessary not only
to claim a territory but also to govern the people living there. However, managing
Nigeria would not prove to be easy. It was one of the most culturally diverse areas
in Africa.
REFERENCES
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Birdsall, N. (1999) Globalisation and the Developing Countries: The Inequality Risk. A paper delivered at the ODC conference ‘Making Development Work’ in Washington DC.
Cornia, G.A., Jolly, A. and Stewart, P. (1987) Adjustment with a human face: Protecting the vulnerable and promoting growth. Oxford University Press.
Daly, H.E. (1995) Consumption and welfare: Two views of value added. Review of Social Economy, LIII(4), 451-473.
Daly, Herman (1997) ‘Reconciling Internal and External Policies for Sustainable Development’ In Dragun, A.K. and Jakobsson, K.M. (eds) Environmental Policy: New Perspectives. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK. PP. 11-31.ECA (1998) African Economic Report - 1998
Ekins, P. (1997) ‘Sustainability as the basis of environmental policy’. In Dragun, A.K. and Jakobsson, K.M. (eds.) Environmental Policy: New perspectives. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK. Pp. 33-61.