Extract
[...] What are the consequences of colonialism on governance and environmental management in Africa, through the political, economic, and social dimensions? « What a land this Africa peopled, it is barbarism ; deserted, it is savagery ; Go, Peoples take possession of this land. Take it . These words are extracted from a speech delivered by Victor Hugo on May on the occasion of a banquet celebrating the abolition of slavery, highlighting the usefulness of colonization. The spirit of this text translates the challenges that await the African continent at the end of the 19th century, and whose political, social, economic but also environmental consequences are still felt today.1. [...]
[...] This massive exploitation led to an ecological and demographic disaster in almost all regions of the colonized Africa: drought and famine, plague and/or yellow fever epidemics in Côte-d'Ivoire, Madagascar, or Senegal, or again epizootics. B. The Colonial Environmental Governance - An Environmental Apartheid The environmental disaster is noted by colonial administrators, scientists employed in the colonies, and colonizers. For example, the fauna suffers from a collapse of animal populations due to hunting, trafficking, or studies conducted by scientists. However, the blame is shifted to indigenous populations, accused for example of using archaic hunting methods. The awareness of the destructive impact of colonial economic activity has turned against indigenous peoples. [...]
[...] Located in regions subject to political or ethnic tensions, these parks also allow « to these states to plant the flag in territories they struggle to control9 » III. Neo-colonialism and its impact on the African environment A. A new form of exploitation of African resources - A new form of colonialism Since the 1960s, a neo-colonialism has been put in place that can be defined as « the maintenance or the return of colonialism after independence, possibly in indirect or discreet forms10. [...]
[...] Local elites, formed within segregated and hierarchical societies, will inspire or lead the decolonization, begun as early as the end of World War II with the emergence of nationalist movements and which will continue until the 1960s4. In reality, even after the end of decolonization, European influence continued to be exerted on African states in the form of what is called neocolonialism, that is to say, indirect domination and interference by the former colonial powers - but also by other states - in the political, economic, social, or military affairs of the formerly colonized countries. One of the consequences of this colonization and neocolonization thus relates to environmental issues. [...]
[...] The colonization of Africa in the 19th century: an international conquest A. Africa, a land of fantasies - A Wild Eden Africa, an object of conquest since the Roman era, has nourished many fantasies from the part of Westerners, and in particular Europeans in the 19th century: images of fertile lands, vast deserts and forests, varied plants, and a wild nature are often associated with stereotypes of the indigenous population inhabited by 'good savages'. - An unknown environment to Westerners Unlike Western Europe, Africa (whether North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa or the Middle East) has a constraining environment with more unpredictable weather conditions making crop rotation difficult. [...]
