The Scramble for Africa

Seminar Studies in History

by Muriel Evelyn Chamberlain

Uses case histories from Egypt to Zimbabwe to explore the European conquest and partition of Africa, contrasting the Victorian image of Africa with the results of twentieth-century research on the history of the continent.

Genres: History, Africa, Nonfiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1974

About the author

A specialist in European colonisation and de-colonisation and British foreign policy in the nineteenth century, Muriel Evelyn Chamberlain was emeritus professor of history at the University of Wales, Swansea. She earned her B.A. as St. Hilda's College, Oxford in 1954, her M.A. in 1958, and her D.Phil. in 1961.

Reviews

[Rita Vb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um livro surpreendentemente curto mas conciso e transversal acerca dos engenhos diplomáticos e geo-estratégicos por detrás da Corrida a África.

Acaba por se focar mais no traço dos esquemas coloniais europeus (em geral, o livro aborda a construção das “esferas de influência”) mas também tenta considerar o volume da história africana anterior ao colonialismo. Falam-se de coisas interessantes, e a parte inicial do livro, com propósitos contextuais sobre o ponto de situação no século XIX, também me agradou muito.

Ainda assim, sinto-me um pouco dividida em relação a esta leitura; primeiro, apesar de fornecer informação breve e pertinente sobre vários acontecimentos, e de explicar cada região africana isoladamente (nomeadamente, gostei bastante das partes acerca da ocupação e guerras na África do Sul) acaba por ser evidente que é uma pesquisa antiga e predominantemente anglo-francesa.

Enquanto lia, dei por mim a pensar várias vezes em como 1/3 dos relatos pareciam girar somente à volta de Inglaterra. A autora de facto era especializada nessa área, por isso suponho que faça sentido, mas ainda assim, gostaria de ter lido mais sobre as especificidades dos outros casos. Como segunda grande potência colonial, a França também é mencionada muitas vezes; se bem que até certo ponto isso também se deve à competição constante com Inglaterra. De resto, a Alemanha é abordada com alguma frequência mas superficialmente, e maioritariamente por causa da rivalidade com Inglaterra, a Holanda recebe algum protagonismo com os Bóeres (de novo, conflitos com Inglaterra), Leopoldo II da Bélgica é uma menção estranhamente momentânea, fala-se mais acerca do Cecil Rhodes (outro inglês) (o caso belga sinceramente poderia ter sido levado mais a sério), e Portugal está estritamente vinculado às tensões diplomáticas do Ultimato Britânico e da Conferência de Berlim.

O livro passa um pouco a imagem da Corrida a África como uma série de estratagemas e conflitos ligados a Inglaterra - quer pela organização da narração, quer pela omissão de mais informações. De forma semelhante, o objectivo da autora parece ser mais entender o que levou à Corrida a África na política europeia do que entender como é que as colonizações em si afetaram África e os africanos, ou seja, a questão parece não ser assim tanto sobre história africana.

Quanto ao capítulo final, que busca compreender o imperialismo de forma mais científica, o livro baseia-se completamente em teorias clássicas monocausais anteriores ao movimento pós-colonial, então deixa um pouco a desejar.

Não deixa de ser uma leitura informativa, que trata mais de cronologias e factos do que análises ou reflexões. O livro mantém-se bastante em cima das disputas territoriais - tendo um capítulo específico ao caso egípcio - e das ideologias dominantes no ocidente ao longo dos anos narrados, o que é essencial para perceber a aceitação do imperialismo não só pelas elites como pelas massas.

[Ian McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Scramble for Africa" is a concise and insightful exploration of one of the most pivotal periods in modern imperial history.

Chamberlain offers a clear and balanced analysis of the complex political, economic, and strategic motives that drove European powers to partition Africa in the late 19th century. The book successfully combines historical narrative with thoughtful interpretation, making it both informative and accessible.

The prose is academic and dense in many places. Certainly sections where I had to intellectually engage before starting to read. The author’s ability to summarise major historiographical debates in a compact format is impressive though. The book would be useful for students - post-16 or under-graduate - seeking a solid introduction to the topic.

"The Scramble for Africa" is a well-structured and authoritative overview that deepens understanding of European imperialism and its lasting consequences.

[John Crippen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommended by an old Africa hand in the library at work. Interesting to see what academics in the 1970s thought of previous works on the Scramble for Africa (roughly 1880 to 1900). This was neither an easy read nor a pleasant read, but it was a short read.

[Juan Pablo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief introduction to historical facts & events leading up to & a little beyond the scramble of Africa, imperialism & colonialism. It's very eye opening to how these events lead to what was likely an inevitable clash which was World War 1. Even if the European powers would have liked to honor their "Gentleman's Agreements" in regards to stealing land, overtaking trade routes to maintain economic power for their own benefit, it was likely something that could never truly be honored considering capitalist tendencies to consolidate & monopolize, as well as missteps by different countries included in these agreements that made them more or less dependent on a given nation in power, at this time, specifically Britain.

The author seems to be an apologist for the West's encroachment upon the rights of Africans because of the "benefits" that "civilization" brings. He even goes so far as to say that because investment in specific territories may have made up a fraction of the cost of investment at home, among other factors, that that means that it was neither profitable nor a concerted effort to start & maintain colonialism. This dismisses a number of things such as, the importance of the control of trade, which likely offset any costs of maintaining colonies as well as painting politicians & average citizens as mere reactionaries &, particularly the former, not puppets of capital, domestic & sometimes foreign, behind the scenes. It also dismisses the importance of what is extracted from these colonies for the benefit of the home country as well as, by the author's own admission, again considering the contradictions of capitalism, the dispersing of settlers so as not to upset the established order & give them comfortable lives at the expense of everyone else.

Overall, it's a decent book as an introduction, provided one takes the facts given & allows for their own critical thinking in regards to them.

[Mark Eickhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brief historical overview intended as a general reference. The Who's Who and chronology are particularly helpful. The maps are very basic and drawn in black and white. Since the book has a number of color plates with photos and illustrations, it shouldn't have had to use such low quality maps.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly good concise overview of a complicated history. Obviously, there's a lot left out— it's less than 100 pages, not counting the appendices— but it's actually pretty remarkable how much Chamberlain packs in to those pages, and how good he is at indicating just WHERE something has been left out or glossed over.

[Brock DeMark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dated, but still a good introduction! Helped me with class prep!