How Europe Underdeveloped Africa
ISBN 0-9501546-4-4 | |
Part of a series about |
Imperialism studies |
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How Europe Underdeveloped Africa is a 1972 book written by
Rodney argues that a combination of
This book, along with Frantz Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth, is a popular example of 20th century books concerning African development and post-colonial theory.
Background
First published in London by Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications in 1972 (in partnership with Tanzanian Publishing House), the book shaped the study of Africa in many disciplines.[1] Rodney wrote the text during his time in Dar es Salaam, during the presidency of Julius Nyerere. Tanzanian scholar Karim F Hirji has described the work as, "no doubt the 20th century's most important and influential book on African history."[2]
Synopsis
Rodney argues that to fully appreciate and understand the effect of European exploitation on Africa, four distinct issues need to be addressed: a reconstruction of pre-European Africa's developmental condition, that of pre-expansionist Europe, and their contributions to each other's present condition, developed or otherwise. After an introductory chapter in which he definitionally discusses development, underdevelopment, and associated terminologies in their historical and contemporary contexts, he devotes a chapter to each of these four issues. He concludes the book with a chapter critiquing arguments that promote the "supposed benefit of colonialism". In this chapter, he also explains the means through which colonialism is linked to Africa's present underdevelopment.[citation needed]
Editions
- (1972) London: ISBN 0-9501546-4-4)
- (1974) Washington, DC: ISBN 0-88258-013-2)
- (1981) Howard University Press (ISBN 0-88258-096-5)
- (1982) Howard University Press (ISBN 0-88258-105-8)
- (2018) ISBN 978-1-78873-118-8)
References
- ISBN 9781788731188.
- ISBN 9780995222397.