Colonialism & Imperialism in the Congo

Before delving into a discussion of the impact of colonialism and imperialism on the Congo, it is best to define the terms in order to understand the difference between them. Imperialism is the ôpractice by which nations or peoples seek to extend and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoplesö (Imperialism 1996). In contrast, even though imperialism is often used interchangeably with colonialism, there is a distinct difference between the two. Colonialism is that state that exists when a ôterritory, inhabited or not, acquired by conquest or settlement by a people or government previously alien to that territory; and, imposed foreign rule upon such a territoryö (Colonies 1996). The Congo has long been subjected to both colonialism and imperialism. However, because of the policies of King Leopold of Belgium, perhaps they have suffered through one of the most atrocious colonial regimes in modern record.

A decade after Anglo-African explorer Henry Stanley asked the question, Dr. Livingston I presume?, a series of conferences held in Berlin witnessed the division of Africa to European powers. StanleyÆs discovery of a route that could be navigated created what Hochschild (1999) refers to as a furor to exploit the riches of Africa: ôNow based in London, Stanley could hear around him the first rumblings of what would before long become known as the Scramble for Africaö (26). Le

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removed Leopold from control, and maintain the Belgian Congo as a colony until 1960. Shortly after this riots caused Belgium to cede independence to the Congo. Patrice Lumumba became the nationÆs first prime minister, but was ousted from office days later in a military coup led by Joseph Mobutu (History, 1993, 1). Lumumba was eventually assassinated as Mobutu began a process of instituting democratic reforms. Upon assuming control he referred to the nationÆs history as one of ôchaos, disorder, negligence, and incompetenceö (History, 1993, 1). By the mid-1970s, the Republic of Congo had one political party, a new constitution, and its social and political influence were growing. Hochschild (1999) estimated that somewhere between 5 and 10 million Congolese died as a result of King LeopoldÆs policies in the Congo. While the 1960s brought about major state political and economic reforms, the period before that and after Leopold was still one of intense exploitation resulting in a corrupt, depleted, and demoralized state. As Rashad (2003) maintains, ôIt is quite apparent that the overall effect of colonialism on Africa was immensely deleterious. The European powers desired and needed slaves, ivory, ports, raw materials, and
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Approximate Word count = 1440
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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