The African Inheritance

The African Inheritancediscusses pre-colonial Africa, the increasing European interest in the continent, the European partition and the subsequent colonial rule and de-colonization. It examines the consequences of this inheritance: the large number of very small and weak states, the geographically marginal capital cities, contentious international boundaries, dependent land-locked states, destructive sucessionist movements, irredentism and African imperialism. Africa has attempted to tackle these problems through abortive political union states, economic groupings and a reorientation of infrastructural development away from a colonially-based system. Yet individual development is inhibited by the colonially imposed strait jacket of political geography. In developing the theme of colonial inheritance of Africa,The AfricanInheritanceis essential in gaining a better understanding of the confusing current problems of the continent. To lookfor immediate causes alone can be misleading and this book directs the reader to a broader and deeper understanding of the contemporary map of the continent.