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Compare and contrast European Imperialism in Africa and China.
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Compare and contrast European Imperialism in Africa and China
European Imperialism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century shaped the
political, economic and social structure of China and Africa. The European empire affected both
places, though the consequences of the empire were different and may have been similar. This
paper analyzes why European Imperialism happened in China and Africa as well as resistance,
main strategies, and impacts in the long run.
Motives for Imperialism
There were several factors and driving forces towards Imperialism in Europe and Africa
as well as Asia China. The Europeans justified colonization of Africa by claiming that they
sought to promote civilization and trade in Africa; however, the real reasons for colonization
included sourcing raw materials, finding markets for European finished products, and controlling
large naval ports and coaling stations (Rapanyane, 2021). Because of the need to feed their
industrial needs within government circles in Europe, direct control over Africa, which held
mineral, rubber, and other raw commodities, was hence deemed appropriate (Rapanyane, 2021).
Thus, European Imperialism in China sought to achieve domination without territorial objectives
but commercial domination for the purpose of gaining better control in the domain of commerce
and trade (Budd, 2021). European people in business wanted unequal treaties and extraterritorial
privileges to open up the prosperous Chinese markets in the tea, silk and porcelain trade.
Methods of Control
Europeans employed many strategies to control and dominate China and Africa as part of
an attempt to assert their authority in these regions. European empires have practiced direct
colonialism in Africa most of the time. The Europeans were involved in what is referred to as the
scramble for Africa during the Berlin Conference of 1884 -1885 (Rapanyane, 2021). They
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proceeded to assert colonial dominance by bringing under control large parts of the continent.
Consequently, European powers placed fixed structures, laws, and colonies in Kenya and South
Africa to utilize the raw materials.
On the other hand, Europe's interest in and influence on China was due to Europe's
political and economic dominance (Rapanyane, 2021). The first and the second Opium Wars,
which were fought between 1839-1842 and 1856-1860, led to China signing unfair treaties such
as the Tientsin and Nanking treaties (Budd, 2021). Such agreements provided European
governments the right to exercise their jurisdiction within key ports. They asserted rights for
foreigners in China that stated that they were subject to their country's laws.
Resistance and Rebellion
Africa and China have different approaches and experiences towards European
Imperialism. It was equally clear to see that the African resistance amounted to small military
confrontations only. Some examples of resistance include the Herero and Namaqua War in
German South West Africa, the Maji Maji uprising in East Africa against German rulers and the
Zulu resistance against the British (Rapanyane, 2021). These uncoordinated attempted
insurgencies were easily put to an end by the European army, which was undoubtedly superior in
technology. The two most important rebellions against foreign domination are The Boxer
Rebellion of 1899-1901 and the Taiping Rebellion of 1850-1864 in China (Budd, 2021). The
protesters had been expressing dissatisfaction with the social and economic conditions in China
for a while, combined with xenophobia (Budd, 2021). In response to a foreign invasion,
combined forces of multinationals came together to suppress the Boxer Rebellion.
Long-term impacts
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The influence of the European Empire must be supported, especially in China and Africa.
Today’s violence and instability in Africa are evidenced in its independence legacy since the
colonial boundaries cut across ethnic and cultural distinctions (Rapanyane, 2021). This is
because poverty and underdevelopment are the results of traditional economies that were
subverted by extractives and the imposition of neo-liberal economics. Imperialism was
detrimental to the Qing Dynasty, and Beijing’s position was reduced, making China a second-
class power. Consequently, nationalist organizations pursued the struggle that led to the
overthrow of the monarchy (Budd, 2021). For a hundred years, the policy of the Open Door,
unequal treaties, and foreign concessions damaged the internal growth of China politically and
economically, leading to an internal revolution and anti-foreign movements.
In conclusion, even though methods of control and ways of resistance may have been
significantly different, European Imperialism in Africa and China aimed at attaining geo-political
and geo-economic goals. While in China's case, the nations were essentially opened for
exploitation and subjugation through the implementation of unequal treaties, Africa was
colonized directly with adverse social and political impacts on the societies. Thus, both regions
witnessed significant upheaval and, following foreign occupation, were subjected to social
changes that shaped their further development. People could also understand that tradition differs
from analogy, and such historical knowledge and comparison help them comprehend the history
of Imperialism.
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References
Budd, A. (2021). China and Imperialism in the 21st Century. International Socialism Journal,
(170), 123-150. https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/8x006
Rapanyane, M. B. (2021). Neocolonialism and New Imperialism: Unpacking the Real Story of
China's Africa Engagement in Angola, Kenya, and Zambia. Journal of African Foreign
Affairs, 8(3). https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.31920/2056-5658/2021/v8n3a5
