The Myth of Arbitrariness
The dominant narrative of Africa's colonial borders paints a picture of European powers drawing lines on the map with little knowledge or care for local conditions.
This perspective sees the Berlin Conference as a pivotal moment where Africa was divided in European capitals, devoid of African participation.
This view has been critiqued for oversimplifying the complex dynamics at play, suggesting instead that borders, especially straight-line borders, were not placed as haphazardly as previously thought.
This perspective sees the Berlin Conference as a pivotal moment where Africa was divided in European capitals, devoid of African participation.
This view has been critiqued for oversimplifying the complex dynamics at play, suggesting instead that borders, especially straight-line borders, were not placed as haphazardly as previously thought.
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