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: Paperback / softback
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, unearthing the contradictions and hypocrisies of nations that destroy nature at home while claiming to be guardians of the natural world abroad. He exposes the true nature of this battle for a phantom Africa, a quest driven by a desire to control and exploit the natural resources of the continent. This form of colonialism, he argues, is called "green colonialism," as it involves the exploitation and control of nature for the benefit of a few, while the indigenous communities and ecosystems that rely on it are left to suffer.

The story of Africa is a complex and multifaceted one, filled with tragedy and resilience. It is a reminder of our responsibility to protect and preserve the natural world, not just for the sake of Africa but for the sake of our own humanity. As Blanc concludes, "The dream of Africa is a mirage, but the battle for a sustainable future is real. We must wake up and take action before it is too late."

Weight: 314g
Dimension: 137 x 216 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509550890