This essay explores the notion of colonialism and will exemplify whether the act and the effects of the phenomenon are considered good or bad. By drawing on relevant academic literature, this essay intends to acknowledge both sides of the argument whilst examining a number of historical examples, these examples will include the city-state of Singapore, and what is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. Reviewing these examples will highlight the different influences colonialism has had and will aid in the discovery of whether, overall, it is primarily an advantage or disadvantage to the multitude of countries it has touched. At the end of this essay, a well-rounded conclusion will be formed. This will be done by analyzing each argument made within the main body in order to reach a fully informed decision on whether colonialism was mainly destructive, or if it has paved the way for the success that some states have acquired today.
Colonialism can be a difficult concept to define and the definitions put forward by scholars are frequently contested, and it seems that many academics have ceased to grasp the phenomenon (Horvath, 1972). The Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy gives a basic definition of colonialism and states that it is “the practice of domination which involves the subjugation of one people to another” (Stanford Encylopedia of Philosophy, 2006), this definition does nothing but highlights how a number of areas throughout the world (such as Asia, Latin America, and Africa) succumbed to control by external Western powers. However, this definition does lack complexity and fails to indicate the extent to which colonialism has had an impact on states, a more fitting definition of the term would be that colonialism is the conquest and control of another nation’s land and goods (Loomba, 2015), this interpretation of the term enables understanding around the significance of colonialism and explains what it entails.
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The history of colonialism spans back to the fifteenth century with explorations led by Portugal and Spain. It was the decision to commence contact with the outside world in order to impart political-religious and economic thought. This time period marked the beginning of interactions between the Global North and the Global South and resulted in many centuries of occupation and competition among European empires (Haslam et al. 2017). Insight into the history of colonialism is vital for the purpose of understanding the dynamics of the political and economic landscape in the world today (Singh, 2001).
As with any historical concept, there are both advantages and disadvantages associated. This section will aim to highlight how colonialism and the act of being brought into a democratic, capitalist system may have been beneficial or detrimental to nations conquered by the Europeans.
As stated before, colonialism is a form of political control over territories (Manning, 1974), and the cost/benefit approach identifies a basic need for human rights, development, security, and governance, and asks whether colonialism improves or worsens this (Gilley, 2018). Singapore is a prime example used in research and literature to prove the legitimacy of colonialism and the positive influence it can have. The outward success of Singapore is equated to the “replication of colonial governance of their pasts” (Gilley, 2018) meaning that the state thrives due to the re-obtainment of political, economic, and social models once enforced by the West.
Singapore was colonized by the British in 1824 as a result of the East India Trading Company seeking a trading port (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2019), the British dominated for many years, with much of the state’s capital obtained through the opium trade endorsed by the British colonial government (Trocki, 1990). Their power came to an end in 1942 and post-colonial Singapore was an era of high unemployment, poverty, as well as class-based and ethnic conflicts, all underpinned by the exploitation of the British. It is a common theme throughout colonial history that for Europeans, European economic interests are of paramount importance. In spite of this, postcolonial rulers clutched on to the few advantages left behind by the British and used them to benefit the wider society (Gilley, 2018), the driving factor in this was the People’s Action Party (PAP) which destroyed left-wing leadership and connected the state with international capitalism to create a workers’ paradise (Trocki, 2006). This led to the diminishment of slums and crime and made way for increased employment, housing, free education, infrastructure, transportation, and affordable medical care (Trocki, 2006). This adoption of Western methods means that Singapore is now one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a GDP per capita of $57,714.30 (USD) (World Bank, 2019). It seems that Singapore is a fine illustration that shows how countries can perhaps build on their colonial past and as a result, push for better services, effective governance, and international order, thus leading to improved living conditions for all.
Singapore is a case that has progressed in many aspects and has transported itself from colonial status to becoming one of Asia’s most flourishing economies, all within the timeframe of 40 years (Trocki, 2006). That being said, it can be problematic to view Singapore’s success in regard to colonization in such a positive light when there are still underlying issues in the state such as soft authoritarianism (Means, 1996). There is a lack of freedom of speech, intrusive government propaganda, and no civil society (Trocki, 2006).
On the contrary, not all countries are so lucky as to experience such exponential growth at the hands of colonialism, and a large number of scholars see it as an extremely destructive process. Colonial power is often seen as an object of struggle and depends on the material, social, and cultural resources of those involved (Cooper, 1947). Furthermore, according to Fanon, colonization isn’t a bad thing due to moral judgment, but as a statement of the fact of material and cultural oppression by the colonial system (Fanon, 1961). These statements both focus on the idea that the exploitation of indigenous culture, goods, and social means are the most detrimental parts of the colonization mechanism. The exploitation of culture and goods has had long-lasting effects on some states and has altered the social, economic, and political structures intensely. This can be identified in the example of King Leopold’s brutal reign over the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There are not many topics within the history of Africa that have gained as much exposure as King Leopold’s Congo and show how a monarch’s greed and ambition to hold a colony in Africa has brought long-lasting destruction to the people of Congo (Almeida, 2019). Prior to Leopold’s rule, the Congo was a land full of history, its governmental structures were intricate and made up of kingdoms, chiefdoms, and trade, additionally, it was well-documented that the country was as civilized as Europe at the time (Johnson, 2014). However, none of these complex kingdoms could stop the scramble for Africa, which occurred during the late 1800s and divided the continent into forty colonies (Haslam et al. 2014), it was during this period that King Leopold’s rule and destruction began. A king on a ‘civilizing mission’ determined to expand his profits from rubber, ivory, and slaves in order to intensify his own power, but in doing so was responsible for the murder of 15 million Congolese people. His actions have caused ethnic conflicts, authoritarian regimes, and an exploitative economy that have lasted over a century (Johnson, 2014).
Today, the Democratic Republic of Congo is still haunted by its colonialist history, and it is apparent that weaker nations, like those in Africa, continue to remain in the grasp of stronger, European nations. The socio-political and ideological systems of the Congo were affected extensively (Ahmad, 2017) as well as the control and diminishment of local culture and customs. The imprint of colonialism can last for a long time, relating to the concept of ‘decolonizing the mind’, an idea put forward by writer Ngugi Wa Thiong’o explaining how the colonizer continues to reap the benefits from the colonialist period, whereas the colonized continue to bear a heavy burden long after these states have gained independence (Ahmad, 2017). Moreover, the colonization of states in Africa, such as the Congo, is described as a “monumental milestone in the development of Africa”, the influence of such atrocities is what many Africans today consider to be of greatest importance when accepting the current state of the continent and the conditions in which African’s live (Mudane, 2017). For this reason, the analysis of colonialism is extremely important so that one may comprehend the influence it has had on economic, social, and political developments today, as well as how Africans perceive themselves (Khapoya, 1994).
After researching extensively and honing in on a number of different opinions and examples, the overall theme of colonialism is a bad one. The case of the rapid development of Singapore gives the impression of being an anomaly, this is just one state that has managed to utilize Westernised methods and grow from its colonial past, and perhaps its successes may provide examples for other developing and developed countries (Trocki, 2006).
Colonialism has generated global inequality in a diverse number of ways (Acmemoglu et al. 2005) and although states have gained independence from their colonial rulers, colonialism still underpins the high levels of poverty and income inequality experienced throughout the world today (Frankema, 2006). Examples like the Democratic Republic of Congo which, even after almost 60 years of independence, is still home to millions of people that suffer due to dictatorships, uncontrolled use of resources, and low GDP per capita – all of which can be linked back to its colonial history.
“When the Missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land and the Missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible.” – Jomo Kenyatta, African Activist and the first President of Kenya.
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