British, French, Belgian and Portuguese Models of Colonial Rule and Economic Development in Africa

Although the goals of the colonial powers of controlling the human and material resources of Africa were alike, their means of achieving those colonial goals and interests were different by virtue of their different approaches in social control, economic development and political integration. Despite achieving independence, many African countries still suffer from the remnants of colonialism in the form of neocolonialism – economic, social, language and cultural dependencies. Other contemporary conflicts African countries face in the post-colonial era include border disputes, disparate and unequal patterns of economic development, cultural and language differences resulting from colonial histories and experiences. This paper sets to narrate the history and evolution of European presence in Africa; analyze different and competing types or styles of colonial rules as well as patterns of development adopted by different European powers in their respective colonies in Africa; examine the British, French, Belgian and Portuguese types of rule in Africa and identify some of the major reasons why each colonial power adopted its own distinct form of policy.

Keywords: Berlin Conference, Race and Scramble for Africa, Partition of Africa, Bakassi Peninsula, Industrial Revolution, Slave Coast, Triangular Trade, Warrant Chiefs, Indirect Rule, Assimilation, Emancipation, Brazaville Conference, Poll Tax, Paternalism, Sabon Gari, Colonialism, Compulsory/ Forced labor.