Post-Independence Power Vacancy and its Consequences - Essay Example

“From the very beginning, the 'native problems' of the colonial territories can be traced to the subordination of native authority and the imposition of European rule in its place” (Collins 166). This implies that there were numerous political, cultural and social changes that were put in place to ensure that the European powers would consolidate their rules in the nations they colonized. These systems had long-term repercussions that has had effects on the various political, social and economic trends after independence.

Most of these developing countries have histories of armed conflicts, poverty and backwardness and these can be traced to the moves of the European powers that colonized these nations. The imposition of European rule over and above native authority and the subsequent policies of these European colonialists can be said to be the main causes challenges to developing nations. This can issue manifested itself in the form of power vacuums that were created after the independence of these nations. The purpose of this research is to examine the power vacancy that was created after colonized nations gained independence and the socio-political problems that ensued afterwards.

The research hopes to achieve this end by exploring the following objectives: 1. Analysis of the colonial policies and systems that caused imperial European powers to rule over their colonies. 2. Assessment of the structures and systems of anti-colonial movements that eventually led to the independence of colonized lands. 3. Examination of power vacancies that came up after independence in relation to the Cold War, Ethnic Disharmony and the Third Wave of Democracy In this quest, the Rwandan situation will be examined in the research to help in the conceptualization of the various ideas that will be identified in the research.

The Growth of Colonialism Colonialism and the political rule of peoples and nations around the world did not come about in a short period of time. Rather, it evolved over a period of time and has traces to various times and periods in European history. The earliest versions of colonialism of nations around the world by European powers can be traced to the Spaniards. The Spaniards established the Encomienda system which was inhumane but formed the basis of future colonization of nations around the world.

According to Mahoney (87) The Spanish Crown's policy in the 1500s was to send soldiers to lands they sought to claim and since Spain had the most advance and effective military at that time, they often defeated the locals. After the locals were defeated, a Spanish government post was established in the area. The Spanish Conquistadors or soldiers and some civilians were given a grant by the Spanish Crown and this gave them the authority to enslave a set of natives and the responsibility of Christianizing these natives who were seen as backward and savage (Mahoney 87).

Thus it can be seen that the Spanish expansionist policy established three main things which became significant in the colonization of foreign lands by other European nations: 1. The State use of its military was an essential tool to protect the interest of a state in foreign lands. 2. Natives were savages and they needed to be Christianized 3. The concept of Christianization was the basis for 'civilizing' the savages By the