NAME : MUKWEVHO PREVIOUS

STUDENT NO : 21011849

MODULE : AFRICA AND THE WORLD 3244

MODULE CODE :HIS3244

TOPIC : IMPERIALISM AND FOREIGH INTERVATION IN

AFRICA HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.CRITICALLY ASSESS
VALIDITY OF THIS STATEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENT

COVER PAGE………………………… PAGE 1

TABLE OF CONTENT………………...PAGE 2
INRODUCTION………………………. PAGE 3
BODY…………………………………...PAGE 3-5
CONCLUSION……………………….. PAGE 5
REFERENCES……………………….. PAGE 6
Imperialism and foreign intervention in Africa refer to the historical period during the
late 19th and early 20th centuries when European powers colonised and controlled
various African countries. Imperialism is a policy extending a country’s power and
influence through colonisation, use of military force or other means. foreign
intervention refers to the interference of a country in the affairs of another country for
a purpose of compelling it to do or forbear doing certain acts.so the era of
imperialism had significant impacts of Africans political, economic, and social
development.

On the background of the information European embarked on a quest to colonise the

continent. the motivations for imperialism Africa were multifaceted and can be
attributed to several factors which may include economic interests, geopolitical
competition, technological advancements, and ideological and racial ideas.

The given statement provides a broad overview of the changes in Imperialism and
foreign intervention in Africa over the years.it highlights the initial competition
between European powers, followed by the involvement of the United States and the
emergence of soviet union.it also suggests that the changes led to an ideological
warfare between the east and the west.

This essay aims to critically assess the validity of this statement by examining key
historical events and analysing the motivations behind these interventions.
Firstly the scramble for Africa saw European powers ,including Britain,
France ,Germany ,Belgium and Italy vie for economic and political control over
African territories during the late 19th and 20th centuries .these powers competed
against each other .seeking to expand their empires and exploit Africa’s
resources ,trade routes, and labour .this initial phase of competition was primary
driven by economic interests ,as European powers sought to secure raw
materials ,open m\new ,markets ,and establish strategic advantages .

Furthermore, after Africa started gaining political independence from colonial powers
in mid-20th century the United States became more involved in the region. However,
its involvement differed from that of European powers as it did not seek direct
territorial control. instead, the United States focused on protecting its economic
interests and expanding its influence in Africa. This was achieved through economic
investments, missionary activities and strategic alliances with European powers. the
United States motives in Africa were often linked to countering European influences
and gaining access to African resources .and counter the spread of communism.

The emergence of the Soviet Union after the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 introduced
a new element of imperialism and foreign intervention in Africa. the soviet union
aimed to spread its communist ideology and gain allies among African nations .it
provided support to African liberation movements and its independence governments
.,positioning itself as an alternative to western imperialism .this ideological conflict
between the east and the west ,known as the cold war ,had far reaching implications
for African counties .it intensified interventionist activities in Africa ,with both the
soviet union and the united states engaging in African conflicts.

The ideological warfare brought by the cold war had significant consequences for
Africa .it fuelled instability, armed conflicts and political divisions within African
nations, compounding the already complex socio-political landscape. the
interventions by both sides had varying impacts on African countries, often
exacerbating preexisting tensions and struggles for power, resources and self-
determination.

So, on the issue of Africa changing over the years another significant change in
recent years has been the diversification of foreign actors involved in Africa. in
addition to former colonial powers, new players such as China, and Russia and
emerging economies have increased their engagement in the continent. each of
these actors bring their own set of interests, motivations and approaches to foreign
intervention. for example, Chinas involvement in Africa has focused on the
resources, infrastructure projects, and strategic partnership, while western counties
focused on political stability, democracy, and human rights.

Furthermore, the nature of foreign policy has shifted from overt military interventions
to more subtle strategies such as economic agreements, aid programs, and
diplomatic influence. while military interventions still occur, the overall approach has
become less overt and more focused on securing economic and strategic interests.

In critically assessing validity of the statement, it is important to recognise that while

the involment of European powers, followed by united states and Soviet Union,
reflects significant shifts in foreign intervention in Africa, other factors also played
crucial roles. economic interests, such as resource extraction and market
dominations, remained significant motivations throughout this process. Furthermore,
the of imperialism and foreign intervention varied across different regions of Africa,
influenced by factors such as colonial legacies, geopolitical interests and local
resistance, as such it is vital to consider the complexities and nuances offices history
when evaluating validity of this statement. Also, in assessing validity of this statement
it is important to recognise that Africa is not a homogenous entity and impacts and
consequences of imperialism and foreign intervention vary across the continent.
different degrees of intervention and have responded differently on foreign
involvement, leading to diverse outcomes and trajectories.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the imperialism and foreign policy intervention in Africa underwear a

shift from European competition to the involvement of the United States, followed by
the influence of the soviet, followed by the influence of the Soviet Union during cold
war. this ideological warfare between east and west added a new layer of complexity
to the dynamics of foreign intervention in Africa and had far reaching changes in the
continent.

And the statement of Africa changing over the years is valid. the historical context of
direct colonization has given way to new forms of intervention. The critical
assessment of this nature of foreign involvement in Africa and the need to
understand the diverse factors that shape this dynamic.

However indeed imperialism and foreign intervention in Africa has changed over the
years. European powers initially competed against each other, followed by
involvement of united states after some African countries gains independence. The
emergence of Soviet Union added another dimension, culminating ideological
warfare between the west and the east. however, it is important to recognise that
economic interests and other factors were were also significant motivations of
change throughout the years.
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