The Effects of Colonialism on African Economic Development - Case Study Example

Impacts of Colonial Rule Many countries in the world underwent the process of colonization at the hands of the European powers before gaining independence to become sovereign states. Research shows that it took the European powers about 25 years to partition the world into continents and subsequently into countries (Marker par. 2). Colonization in this case refers to the process of one country gaining control over another due to superiority. The British Empire is one of the European powers that colonized most countries in the world. Other notable European colonizers in the world include Germany, Italy, Portugal, and France. It is noted that once these European powers entered a given country, they imposed their rules and policies on the people of that country or territory. This implies that everyone in the country that the European powers took control of were to follow the laws and rules of their colonizers. In fact, history tells us that the European powers were once in control of all the third world colonies, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries (Marker par. 3). The existence of the European colonies in the third world countries had both positive and negative impacts. Nevertheless, it can be argued that the overall effect of colonialism on the colonized was positive and transformational. This discourse explores the extent to which the colonial rule transformed the world, with particular emphasis on third world countries. It is worth stressing that colonial rule did have negative impacts on many countries colonized by the European powers. However, the positive impacts of the colonial rule cannot be underrated. In most African countries, for example, colonial rule helped in bringing education to the locals that enhanced the literacy level of most Africans. Melber notes that in most countries that the European colonies entered, they established schools, and colleges, where for the natives (17). African people also used these schools to learn. This helped improve the literacy level of most Africans who had no basic education. Research indicates that Europeans taught Africans how to read, write, and do arithmetic. In Kenya, for example, the British colony established a number of schools for European children in some areas and African schools in other areas. Some of the European schools started by the British in Kenya include Nairobi School and Lenana School (Marker par. 5). These schools helped transform Kenya into an enlightened country. The colonial rule also transformed most colonies by improving the health and standards of living of people by establishing hospitals with experienced personnel. Research indicates that prior to the entry of European colonizers in the third world countries, such as Africa, most people depended on herbs and divine healing for diseases. Others went to witch doctors to intervene in their situation. However, this did not help much resulting in high mortality rates. In fact, tropical diseases, such as malaria became prevalent due to lack of drugs. However, soon after invading third world countries, the European colonizers embarked on building hospitals and clinic where they could be treated for diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, sleeping sicknesses and small pox, just to name but a few. These hospitals were also used to treat Africans whenever they fell ill. In addition, the hospitals were also used to train Africans on drug use. The establishment of the hospitals helped reduce mortality rates, as well as improving the standards of living in third world colonies. It also transformed third world colonies from over dependent on herbs and divine intervention to seeking treatments in hospitals from specialized trained doctors and nurses (Hrituleac 13). Sanitation and live expectancy are another area that the colonial rule had a huge impact. Sanitation used to be very poor in most third world countries before the entry of colonizers. However, their entry brought significant transformation by improving the state of sanitation by educating Africans on the importance of maintaining cleanliness and good health. In addition, the colonial rule also greatly improved life expectancy of most third world countries. This was due to the enhanced state of health and well-being (Melber 19). Colonialism also transformed many colonies by bringing infrastructure to enhance economic growth and social development. Research indicates that most colonies have no basic infrastructure in place, such as roads, rails, housing and electric. This infrastructure plays an important role in promoting economic growth and development of the country. The existence of roads and rails, for example, facilitate easy transportation of goods from one place to another. Electricity, on the other hand, makes it possible for people to engage in industrialization that promote growth and development. These important infrastructural facilities were lacking before the European colonizers took control of most third world countries. However, soon after their entry, they build good roads, rail, and housing and electric power stations to promote their activities in the third world countries. These infrastructural facilities also promoted economic developments in the third world countries. In fact, most third world countries still operate on the infrastructural facilities that were built by the European powers several years ago. In Kenya, for example, the British colonizers built the Kenyan-Ugandan railway at around 1902. This railway has remained an important transport infrastructure that connects Kenya and Eat African countries. In fact, most cargos from the port of Mombasa are transported to the rest of East African countries via this railway. Tanzania, also still use most roads that were built by the Germans several years ago. These examples show how the colonial rule indeed revolutionized the word in a big way (Hrituleac 13). Colonialism also transformed colonies by abolishing poor traditions and cultures. Report indicates that, after the entry of most colonizers in some countries, they used their powers to abolish, as well as revise some poor social traditions practiced in some regions, in the world. This helped in eliminating dangerous social trends and ideals. This was seen in India, where after the entry of colonizers, they immediately abolished the Sati tradition. The Sati tradition required that, when a husband dies, during cremation, his wife would also be through alongside him as a show of mourning. This practice reportedly continued in India for a very long time unnoticed until the colonization of the country. The Indian colonizers had to abolish this tradition, and cultural believe since it was inhumane and resulted in the merciless death of innocent women India. Abolishing this tradition and many others in the world marked a significant transformation in most third world countries (Marker par. 9). Peace is another significant transformation that the colonial rule brought in the third world countries. Even though the colonial rule may have been criticized for having killed many people, most of whom were innocent, it also helped restore peace. The entry of colonizers helped abate the long-standing conflicts that characterized most third world countries. For instance, the British colonizers helped reduce tribal and inter-clan conflicts in Kenya by bringing communities together. The same was witnessed in India where the European colonies helped end the civil war in the country. The existence of the British rule in South Africa also helped in ending the genocide in South Africa. In fact, most third world countries have embraced democracy and peace due to the influence of the European powers on their lives. Otherwise, most colonies could have been marred by persistent conflicts (Hrituleac 13). In conclusion, as much as the colonial rule has been criticized for oppressing people in most colonies, the benefits they brought outweigh the negative impacts. The colonial rule help transform most colonies by enhancing the state of education, hospitals, infrastructure, as well as bringing peace. In addition, the European rule ensured that poor traditions and cultures are abolished to restore morality and humanity in the society. In this regard, it can be confidently stated that the colonial rule was transformational and revolutionary. Works Cited Hrituleac, Alexandra. The Effects of Colonialism on African Economic Development: A comparative analysis between Ethiopia, Senegal, and Uganda. MSc in International Economic Consulting. 2011, 1-43. Marker, Sandra. “Effects of Colonization.” Web. 22 Nov. 2013 http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/post-colonial Melber, Henning. Economic and Social Transformation in the Process of Colonization: Society and State Before and During German Rule. State, Society and Democracy, 2000, 16-48. Read More