Political Power and Colonial Development in British Central Africa 1938-1960s

This book explores the late colonial history of Zambia and Malawi, which were part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland from 1953 to 1963. It focuses on the struggle for power between white ethnicity and ideology and issues of social and economic development. It argues that historians have often concentrated on the activities of the main nationalist movements, seeing them as bringing progress away from colonialism and towards independence, but that there are complexities of life and a variety of responses in the colonial situation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the late colonial history of Zambia and Malawi, which, between 1953 and 1963, were part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. While there were historical connections and shared populations between these two territories, they exhibited significant contrasts in power structures, economies, and development. Europeans residing in Northern Rhodesia, with a stronghold in the mining sector, gained dominance after World War II. By the 1950s, it seemed likely that they would establish a long-lasting hegemony, gaining independence from Britain as a new Dominion, thereby controlling both Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland through the Federation. Thus, white ethnicity and ideology play a crucial role in this book, spanning from just before the Second World War to the 1960s, as it explores the struggle for power. However, crises in 1959 and 1960 led to the collapse of the Federation.

A second focus of the book is on issues of social and economic development. For Africans in Nyasaland and rural areas of Northern Rhodesia, this period witnessed a relatively weak economy characterized by limited cash crop production and a pattern of labor migration, often subordinate to powerful European-dominated economic forces within southern Africa. This resulted in colonial policies aimed at rural development being fundamentally flawed. The book also examines the actual nature of rural economic change (as opposed to colonial policies) and discusses alternative visions of the future that were put forward. The argument made is that historians have often concentrated on the activities of the major nationalist movements in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, while neglecting the broader social and economic dynamics of the region.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of the late colonial history of Zambia and Malawi, shedding light on the complex power dynamics, economic disparities, and development challenges that characterized this period. By examining the experiences of both Africans and Europeans, it offers valuable insights into the broader historical context of Southern Africa and the struggles for independence and self-determination.

Weight: 653g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032320243