ME Chamberlin's "The Scramble for Africa" (Book Note)

The scramble for Africa stands as an unequivocal watershed moment in world history, marking the onset of profound transformations for Africans. This text commences with an introductory chapter delving into the African context. It provides succinct overviews of various regions in Africa and introduces key empires and trade networks from the precolonial era. This chapter, though eminently readable and logically structured, carries a distinctly 1970s nationalist fervor in its tone. The author consistently emphasizes that Africa possesses a rich history, countering the earlier Eurocentric notion that it lacked a historical narrative of its own. The subsequent chapter delves into the Victorian perception of Africa. This chapter excels in elucidating factors such as slavery, technological advancements, scientific racism, and humanitarianism that influenced England's perception of Africa. The author contends that these elements impacted both public and private perspectives of Africa, often intertwining them. However, a notable limitation is the exclusive focus on Victorian England. While these influences undoubtedly extended to other colonial powers in Western Europe, the reader must infer such thematic assumptions. The text doesn't offer insight into how these themes resonated in other parts of Western Europe or how factors like nationalism or denominationalism may have shaped these perceptions. This chapter's coverage embodies two interconnected shortcomings that persist throughout the text.

 

The book's title is somewhat misleading. It doesn't thoroughly examine the entirety of the scramble for Africa, but rather centers on the British scramble. While understanding the British role in this period is crucial, the title suggests a broader scope than the text delivers, a common trait in works on colonial Africa. Readers expecting a discussion on a continental scale may find themselves somewhat disappointed. However, for those seeking insights into the British role, this book serves as an excellent introduction.

 

The British are the only historical actors portrayed in a multi-dimensional manner. The French, Germans, and Portuguese are mentioned in passive roles, occasionally frustrating British ambitions or accepting established boundaries. Africans are similarly depicted as reactive figures, almost ethereal in their passivity, maneuvering around the active British. While it's fitting that Africans are frequently mentioned, there's a clear need to delve into African agency, interests, and strategies in a more nuanced manner.

 

Despite these drawbacks, the text boasts commendable attributes. The majority of the content entails an analysis of regional case studies concerning British African imperialism in Egypt, West Africa, East Africa, South Africa, and the Sudan. With the exception of British territories in the Horn of Africa, the case studies collectively narrate the acquisition of all parts of British Africa, with a relatively brief mention of southern Africa beyond the colony of South Africa. The author effectively illustrates the somewhat haphazard nature of British imperialism in Africa, which often lacked a cohesive overarching strategy, akin to British decolonization strategies in later decades. This theme is reiterated in the conclusion. A notable strength lies in the author's balanced portrayal of various British actors, whether they be policy-makers, investors, ardent nationalists, or the British public. The reader gains an appreciation for the diverse interests involved in the British pursuit of African territories.

 

Two additional strengths pertain specifically to instructors of world history. The inclusion of twenty-seven primary documents at the end of the text, referenced within the narrative, contextualizes these documents for the reader. Furthermore, the concluding chapter provides a comprehensive summary of significant theoretical works on the "new imperialism," including contributions from Hobson, Lenin, and Robinson and Gallagher, among others. Chamberlain adeptly outlines the shift from earlier mono-causal explanations to more multi-causal interpretations in recent decades. This historiographical survey could greatly benefit world history teachers.

 

From a theoretical standpoint, the most significant strength lies in Chamberlain's challenge to postcolonial and postmodern theories. These theories have made vital contributions by uncovering and amplifying the voices of indigenous agents, thereby contesting earlier colonial narratives rooted in Eurocentrism. However, in their zeal to vanquish Eurocentrism, postcolonial writers often vilify all things Western and romanticize all things indigenous. Chamberlain reminds us that history is more complex. Heroes and villains emerge in all times and places. The author frequently highlights internal British critics of imperialism, underscoring that their voices were few and often ineffectual. Nevertheless, their existence demonstrates that the scramble was a morally intricate affair, far more complex than either Eurocentrism or postcolonialism can convey. However, to further advance this theoretical point, incorporating more perspectives on African agency, wherever Africans stood in their shifting relationship to colonialism, is essential. Chamberlain applies this nuanced understanding primarily to the British, yet Africans, too, were entangled in intricate and evolving relationships with colonialism. This aspect warrants more attention in the narrative.