Examination of the Impact of colonialism on Congo.

1. Research Paper Proposal
By Hassan Mudane

2. • Name: Hassan Mudane
• Student Number: 100044249
• University Name: Istanbul Ticaret University
• Supervisor: Ahmed Ozturk
• Date: 06.04.2017
• Title of the Paper: Examination of the Impact
of Colonialism on Congo

3. Background
The Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC), located in Central Africa, is the
second largest country in the continent
and one of the most geographically
distinctive and rich mineral countries in
the world.
It is one of the most brutal and
exploitative colonial administrations in
modern history.

4.  Africa today is underdevelopment in relation to
West. ... And a few other parts of the world; and
that the present position has been arrived at, not
by the separate evolution of Africa on the one hand
and Europe on the other, but through exploitation.
(Rodney, 1982, P. 33).

5.  [However], Colonization of Africa by European
countries was a monumental milestone in the
development of Africa. The Africans consider the
impact of colonization on them to be perhaps the
most important factor in understanding the present
condition of the African continent and of the African
people.
 Therefore, a close scrutiny of the phenomenon of
colonialism is necessary to appreciate the degree to
which it influenced not only the economic and
political development of Africa but also the African
perceptions of themselves. (Khapoya, 1994, P. 99).

6.  [When it comes] the details and motivations
behind [the colonization of Africa] it is best to
leave to the historians, but the results of this
imperial competition are obvious. Whether it was
for economic, strategic or cultural reasons,
agreements ratified at the 1884–85 Berlin
Conference (and after) saw Africa carved up
between the European powers.
 Only the empire of Ethiopia and the territory of
Liberia (a country established for freed slaves)
escaped this partition.

7.  France favoured North, West and Central Africa;
Britain claimed great chunks of West, East, Central
and Southern Africa; Portugal took the territories
of Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau; King
Léopold of Belgium was awarded the Congo; Italy
established control in Libya, Eritrea and part of
Somalia; Spain did likewise in north Morocco, the
Spanish Sahara and Spanish Guinea; while
Germany gained areas in the south-west and the
east of the continent, as well as the Cameroons
and Togoland. (Thomson, 2010).

8.  Thus, in this research, I will explore the colonial
legacy in Congo and exams interpretations of this
history by Western scholars. The proposed
research paper will begin with an examination of
the impact of colonialism on Congo. How did
Colonialism Affect people in Congo? Why Congo did
not benefit from Colonialism? These are the two
questions that this research will address.

9. Research Problem
 The literature on Colonialism in Africa, particular
in Congo is written by Western scholars. They
tried to make interpretation of the Congolese
Colonial Experience by looking at the problems
caused by the Colonial powers through the
lenses of white glasses instead of black glasses.
Therefore, to come up conclusion by making
generalizations about the conditions in Africa is
not easy. Thinkers do not divorce themselves
from their beliefs when they think theories into
existence. As Robert Cox once remarked
‘Theory is always for someone and for some
purpose.’

10.  However, there is believed that the truth about the
Leopold’s crimes was deliberately hidden to protect
Belgium and Belgian inches in the Congo. Thus,
this research will try to reveal the historical biased
of Congolese Colonial experience, and also will try
to exam the problems of the Congolese colonial
experience through the lenses of black glasses.
Different critical assessments are needed to correct
each of these biases and I have a number of ways
to cover with them.

11. Purpose Statement
 The main aim of this research is to exam the
impact of colonialism on Congo. This shall lead to
the following objective:
• To critically evaluate the literature on Colonialism
in Africa, particular in Congo.

12. Research Questions
1. How did Colonialism Affect people in Congo?
2. Why Congolese did not benefit from Colonialism?

13. Hypothesis
Congo never benefited from colonialism.

14. Methodology
 The methodology of this research is based on
mainly literature review. I will also use a historical
review as a method.

15. Bibliography
 Several extensive searches of the critical literature
were referred to. African Experience by Vincent B.
Khapoya, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by
Walter Rodney. King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam
Hochschild. Foreign Policy analysis: A comparative
introduction by Marijke Breuning were also of
great help.