The Invention of Green Colonialism

The story begins with a dream of Africa as a timeless Eden untouched by modernity, but this Africa has never existed. Organizations like UNESCO, WWF, and others are responsible for naturalizing large tracts of the African continent, turning territories into parks and forcibly evicting thousands of people. Guillaume Blanc investigates this battle for a phantom Africa and the contradictory claims of nations who destroy nature at home while believing they are protecting the natural world abroad.

Format: Hardback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 24 June 2022
Publisher: Polity Press

The story of Africa begins with a dream, a vision of a pristine and untouched paradise. We all carry these images in our heads, imagining Africa as a timeless Eden, far removed from the chaos and modernity of the world. However, this Africa has never existed. The more we destroy nature in our own backyard, the more we romanticize and fantasize about it in Africa. This illusion is perpetuated by organizations such as UNESCO, the WWF, and others who claim to be protecting the last vestiges of a wild and untamed Africa. In reality, argues Guillaume Blanc, these organizations are responsible for naturalizing vast tracts of the African continent, turning territories into parks, and forcibly evicting thousands of people from the lands they have lived on for centuries. Blanc conducts his investigation using archives and oral histories, shedding light on this battle for a phantom Africa and the contradictory claims of nations who destroy nature at home while believing they are preserving the natural world abroad. In doing so, they are enacting a new form of colonialism: green colonialism.

The dream of Africa has always captivated the human imagination, with its virgin forests, majestic mountains, and vast plains teeming with wildlife. However, the reality is far from this idealistic vision. The more we destroy nature in our own backyard, the more we romanticize and fantasize about it in Africa. This illusion is perpetuated by organizations such as UNESCO, the WWF, and others who claim to be protecting the last vestiges of a wild and untamed Africa. In reality, these organizations are responsible for naturalizing vast tracts of the African continent, turning territories into parks, and forcibly evicting thousands of people from the lands they have lived on for centuries.

Guillaume Blanc, a French historian and author, has undertaken a groundbreaking investigation into this battle for a phantom Africa and the contradictory claims of nations who destroy nature at home while believing they are preserving the natural world abroad. Blanc's research uses archives and oral histories to shed light on this complex issue, challenging the notion that African national parks are protecting the last vestiges of a world once untouched and wild. Instead, he argues that these organizations are responsible for naturalizing large tracts of the African continent, turning territories into parks, and forcibly evicting thousands of people from the lands where they have lived for centuries.

Blanc's findings are alarming and revealing. He reveals that the creation of African national parks has often been driven by political and economic interests rather than by a genuine desire to protect nature. He documents how these parks have been used as tools to control and exploit natural resources, with little regard for the local communities who rely on them for their livelihoods. Blanc also exposes the contradictions in the claims made by nations who destroy nature at home while believing they are protecting the natural world abroad. He points out that many of these nations are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change and environmental degradation. However, they continue to promote the development of renewable energy sources in Africa, claiming that it will help to protect the natural world.

Blanc's book, "The Battle for a Phantom Africa," is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationship between nature, colonialism, and development. It challenges the dominant narrative that Africa is a victim of environmental degradation and calls for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to conservation. Blanc argues that we need to recognize the interconnectedness of all ecosystems and work towards a sustainable future that balances the needs of human societies, wildlife, and the environment.

In conclusion, the story of Africa begins with a dream, a vision of a pristine and untouched paradise. However, the reality is far from this idealistic vision. The more we destroy nature in our own backyard, the more we romanticize and fantasize about it in Africa. Organizations such as UNESCO, the WWF, and others who claim to be protecting the last vestiges of a wild and untamed Africa are responsible for naturalizing vast tracts of the African continent, turning territories into parks, and forcibly evicting thousands of people from the lands they have lived on for centuries. Guillaume Blanc's investigation into this battle for a phantom Africa and the contradictory claims of nations who destroy nature at home while believing they are preserving the natural world abroad is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationship between nature, colonialism, and development. His book, "The Battle for a Phantom Africa," challenges the dominant narrative and calls for a more nuanced and empathetic approach to conservation. We need to recognize the interconnectedness of all ecosystems and work towards a sustainable future that balances the needs of human societies.

Weight: 418g
Dimension: 231 x 136 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509550883