Britain, France and the Decolonization of Africa : Future Imperfect?

Looking at decolonization in the conditional tense, this volume teases out the complex and uncertain ends of British and French empire in Africa during the period of ‘late colonial shift'after 1945. Rather than view decolonization as an inevitable process, the contributors together explore the crucial historical moments in which change was negotiated, compromises were made, and debates were staged. Three core themes guide the analysis: development, contingency and entanglement. The chapters consider the ways in which decolonization was governed and moderated by concerns about development and profit. A complementary focus on contingency allows deeper consideration of how colonial powers planned for ‘colonial futures', and how divergent voices greeted the end of empire. Thinking about entanglements likewise stresses both the connections that existed between the British and French empires in Africa, and those that endured beyond the formal transfer of power.Praise for Britain, France and the Decolonization of Africa'...this ambitious volume represents a significant step forward for the field. As is often the case with rich and stimulating work, the volume gestures towards more themes than I have space to properly address in this review. These include shifting terrains of temporality, spatial Scales, and state sovereignty, which together raise important questions about the relationship between decolonization and globalization. By bringing all of these crucial issues into the same frame, Britain, France and the Decolonization of Africa is sure to inspire new thought-provoking research.'H-France'On the whole the collection offers some stimulating points, such as Martin Shipway's final remarks... Marta Musso's persuasive discussion on the diplomatic struggle for control of hydrocarbon resources during the Algerian War of Independence... and a compelling chapter by Joanna Warson on how the French responded to migratory flows of Francophone Africans to British West Africa.'Africa: Journal of the International African Institute'This is a work on imperial history the way it should be done.'History: Reviews of New Books Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title page 5 Copyright information 6 Acknowledgments 7 Table of contents 9 List of figures 11 Notes on contributors 12 Introduction: development, contingency and entanglement... 15 Section 1 Development 29 1 Nation, state and agency: evolving historiographies of African decolonization 31 Imperial designs, metropolitan manoeuvres and moral legacies 32 From imperial centres to African agency: nationalism and its alternatives 40 The colonial and postcolonial state 47 Integration and new orientations 55 2 ‘The winds of change are blowing economically’: the Labour Party... 57 British overseas development: a chronology 60 The Fabian approach to empire 63 Development and decolonization: managing the transition 68 Conclusions 73 3 ‘Oil will set us free’: the hydrocarbon industry and the Algerian decolonization process 76 Europe’s double dependency and the discovery of the Saharan resources 78 Controlling the Territoires du Sud: a new Eurafrica 83 The FLN and the oil industry 89 The Évian Agreements and oil 93 Conclusions 97 Section 2 Contingency 99 4 Future imperfect: colonial futures, contingencies and the end of French empire 101 The inside of pagodas: The Future of the French Union 104 A master and his dog: extracts from school homework 109 On the spot: ‘The political problems of French West Africa’ 117 Conclusions 122 5 The dynamics of anti-apartheid: international solidarity, human rights... 125 International opposition to South African rights abuses 129 International forums and colonial reference points 133 What price human rights? Debates over violent struggle 135 Individuals and (postcolonial) nations: development as human rights 138 Conclusions 143 Section 3 Entanglement 145 6 ‘A worthwhile career for a man who is not entirely self-seeking’... 147 A gentlemanly service? The Colonial Service after 1945 151 Resistant modernizers: Colonial Service recruitment during the 1950s 154 Still a job to be done? Service, duty and British culture during decolonization 158 VSO: from ageing service to young man’s challenge 162 Conclusions 167 7 Protecting empire from without: francophone African migrant workers... 170 Expatriate francophone Africans – or the external threat to the French empire... 172 Implementing French colonial policies in anglophone Africa – or protecting... 177 Conclusions 183 Conclusion: the conditional as a category 186 Afterword: Achilles and the tortoise: the tortoise’s view of late colonialism... 191 Notes 200 Select bibliography 238 Unpublished theses 252 Index 253 "Looking at decolonization in the conditional tense, this volume teases out the complex and uncertain ends of British and French empire in Africa during the period of 'late colonial shift' after 1945. Rather than view decolonization as an inevitable process, the contributors together explore the crucial historical moments in which change was negotiated, compromises were made, and debates were staged. Three core themes guide the analysis: development, contingency and entanglement. The chapters consider the ways in which decolonization was governed and moderated by concerns about development and profit. A complementary focus on contingency allows deeper consideration of how colonial powers planned for 'colonial futures', and how divergent voices greeted the end of empire. Thinking about entanglements likewise stresses both the connections that existed between the British and French empires in Africa, and those that endured beyond the formal transfer of power."--Page 4 of cover

Looking at decolonization in the conditional tense, this volume teases out the complex and uncertain ends of British and French empire in Africa during the period of 'late colonial shift' after 1945. Rather than view decolonization as an inevitable process, the contributors together explore the crucial historical moments in which change was negotiated, compromises were made, and debates were staged. Three core themes guide the analysis: development, contingency and entanglement. The chapters consider the ways in which decolonization was governed and moderated by concerns about development and profit. A complementary focus on contingency allows deeper consideration of how colonial powers planned for 'colonial futures', and how divergent voices greeted the end of empire. Thinking about entanglements likewise stresses both the connections that existed between the British and French empires in Africa, and those that endured beyond the formal transfer of power.