WHY DID INDEPENDENCE in AFRICA FAIL TO TRANSLATE into SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC PROGRESS, INTERNATIONAL EQUALITY and SOCIAL JUSTICE?

1. Make sure that you have a strong thesis statement-a single sentence that answers the question posed.
2. Summarize and quote the Nkrumah’s text (source criticism) 
3. Explain the case study that you will explore to examine if neocolonialism explains Sub-Saharan Africa’s struggles during the 1980s.
4. Invoke the historical facts of your case study to evaluate the NC argument (footnotes)
5. Relate your findings to Africa’s postcolonial struggles during the Lost Decade

Questions for Reflection: These are optional questions to guide your thinking on the topic. These should not be turned in, but they do offer a potential gateway into the assigned question.

• How does Nkrumah define ‘neocolonialism’ and how exactly is it different from the formal colonialism that preceded it?

• What evidence does Nkrumah cite for informal Western influence in postcolonial countries like Ghana?

• Looking at Ghana as a concrete case study, does Nkrumah’s argument hold water or is his theory an elaborate way to shirk responsibility for failing to manage Ghana’s project for modernization?

• Nkrumah and other postcolonial leaders have highlighted how postcolonial states were economically marginalized by not being able to control commodity prices. To what extent did commodity prices contribute to the boom-and-bust periods of African economic history from 1960-1975?

• Nkrumah is not the only critical scholar to point out how Western states exercised an inordinate influence over the postcolonial economy through their control and governance of international institutions like the UN Security Council, World Bank, and IMF. To what extent did Western states and multinational corporations use these informal levers of influence to shape the development policies of postcolonial states like Ghana?

• The Cold War was a global struggle that often put postcolonial states in their crosshairs. How did the Cold War undermine the sovereignty of postcolonial states and condition their development programs?

• The 1967 Algiers Charter presented an argument that Western states owed postcolonial states for the sins committed during the colonial period. To what extent did Western states respond to this with material development aid and expertise?

  Remember that ChatGPT = not your work = plagiarism

  Example of ChatGPT: 

  Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana and a prominent leader in the Pan-African movement, put forth the concept of neocolonialism as a means to explain the continued struggles faced by postcolonial Africa. Nkrumah argued that despite achieving political independence from colonial powers, African nations remained economically and politically subordinate to their former colonizers, thereby perpetuating a form of indirect colonial control.

  Nkrumah’s neocolonial argument suggests that the former colonial powers, primarily through economic means, continued to exploit African nations and maintain control over their resources and markets. This exploitation took various forms, including unequal trade relations, foreign investment dominance, and economic dependency. African countries, lacking the necessary infrastructure, technology, and capital, often found themselves at a disadvantageous position in these relationships.

  According to Nkrumah, neocolonialism hindered Africa’s development and perpetuated underdevelopment. The economic systems put in place during colonial rule were designed to serve the interests of the colonial powers, and postcolonial African nations inherited these systems without significant modifications. The result was an economy that primarily served external interests, rather than prioritizing the needs of the local population.

  Furthermore, Nkrumah argued that neocolonialism extended beyond economic control and encompassed political manipulation as well. He highlighted the influence of foreign powers in shaping African governments and policies, often supporting leaders who aligned with their own interests rather than those of the African people. This interference often resulted in political instability, corruption, and authoritarian rule, which further undermined the progress and development of postcolonial Africa.

  Nkrumah’s neocolonial argument provides a lens through which the struggles of postcolonial Africa can be understood. It highlights the complex and enduring legacy of colonialism, emphasizing how the control exerted by former colonial powers continued to hamper the socio-economic and political progress of African nations. Nkrumah’s analysis contributes to a broader understanding of the challenges faced by postcolonial Africa, shedding light on the structural impediments that hindered the realization of true independence and self-determination.

  Slightly variant question:

  Nkrumah argued that despite achieving political independence from colonial powers, African nations were still under the control and influence of their former colonizers through a new form of colonialism known as neocolonialism. He believed that neocolonialism perpetuated the economic and political subordination of African countries, hindering their progress and development.

  Nkrumah contended that neocolonialism primarily operated through economic means. He claimed that African nations were kept in a state of economic dependency on their former colonial powers through unequal trade relations and foreign investment dominance. The economic systems established during colonial rule were designed to benefit the colonizers, and postcolonial African countries inherited these structures without significant modifications. As a result, African economies continued to serve the interests of external powers, rather than prioritizing the needs and development of the local population.

  Furthermore, Nkrumah argued that neocolonialism extended beyond economic control and encompassed political manipulation as well. He believed that foreign powers exerted influence over African governments, often supporting leaders who aligned with their own interests rather than those of the African people. This interference in African politics led to political instability, corruption, and the rise of authoritarian regimes, undermining the progress and self-determination of postcolonial African nations.

  Overall, Nkrumah’s neocolonial argument emphasized the ongoing control and exploitation of African nations by their former colonial powers, through both economic and political means. He saw neocolonialism as a significant barrier to the struggles and aspirations of postcolonial Africa, hindering true independence and obstructing the path to socio-economic development.

  As you can see, it’s easy to spot ChatGPT and you do not want to fail a course that you worked hard on.

  Necessary Tasks:

  • Your thesis must stake out a position on the question posed;

  • Your paper must provide a summary of Nkrumah’s neo-colonialism argument citing critical concepts, arguments or passages;

  • You must evaluate the validity of the neocolonial argument historically, by linking it to the history of Ghana, Congo, or some other postcolonial state in Africa;

  • Your argument must fit the assignment’s parameters and the challenge of a small canvas;

  • Your essay must demonstrate a mastery of the assigned texts by invoking the concrete evidence necessary to support your subordinate arguments;

  • You are allowed to incorporate other secondary sources from the library, but knowledge of assigned texts is expected and sufficient for answering this question;

  • You must cite your sources in the Chicago style.