NEO-COLONIALISM AS A FACTOR IN AFRICA’S STATE COLLAPSE SINCE INDEPENDENCE

Abstract

The legacy of colonisation has continued to impact on African countries since independence. One way in which this impact has been felt is through neo-colonialism, which has contributed to the dwindling state of several African nations. The state collapse of Africa has been attributed to various factors, including weak governance, bad and corrupt leadership, ethnic conflicts, and poverty amongst others. However, one key issue that seems to be overlooked is the role of neo-colonialism as a major contributing factor to the state collapse of the African continent. The paper attempts to critically examine the impact of neo-colonialism in Africa to discuss how Western interests and domination of Africa have continued to persist even after African States gained independence from European powers; all, to the detriment of Africa’s nation-building. The research questions thus include the following: How has Neo-colonialism contributed to the state collapse of African nations since independence? Are there strategies put in place by African nations to curb the effect of neo-colonialism on Africa? If yes, what are these strategies? If not, why so? The paper criticizes Western Powers' diplomacy and their methods of meddling in the status and affairs of their former colonies in Africa through an ongoing and unrelenting hegemony over their political, socio-cultural and economic systems and interests even after independence. This research strongly argues that neo-colonialism has played a significant role in the state collapse of post-independent African states, by perpetuating economic dependency/exploitation, political instability, and social inequality/identity crisis. The major problem is that neo-colonial international institutions like the Bretton Wood’s institutions – International Monitory Fund, World Bank, General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs and its successor World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as other corporations – who are tacitly responsible for upholding the prevailing global or international order, have crushed and damaged almost beyond repair the socio-political and economic drive needed to usher in Africa's development. This research highlights the historical context of neo-colonialism in Africa, and uses case studies to illustrate how neo-colonialism has undermined African states. The approach to data analysis in the course of this work will major in critique while drawing narratives or essays. There is a need for regional integration and the diversification of Africa’s economies to break away from the clutches of neo-colonialism.