Managing the Prospect of Famine: Cape Verdean Officials, Subsistence Emergencies, and the Change of Elite Attitudes During Portugal's Late Colonial Phase, 1939-1961

The 1940s were a watershed for the Cape-Verdean Islands. Massive drought and famines destroyed the subsistence base for a large number of the islanders. Thousands died under these conditions, while another large group was driven was has repeatedly become known as forced migration or variant of forced labour (mainly towards São Tomé and Príncipe and Angola). The article discusses the role of a Cape Verdean elite of middle and low-level administrators who became involved in the management of the emergency situation and the organisation of compulsory migration. This elite was initially fully compliant to Portuguese expectations. Later, its members became disenchanted by their own experience of the 1947/48 food emergency, and took their distances from the failures of Portuguese social policy. However, even under the impact of such experiences, Cape Verdean administrators finally redefined their role within the logics of a colonial empire in which they now demanded to take a more responsible function.Peer Reviewe

Early Limits of Local Decolonization in São Tomé and Príncipe: From Colonial Abuses to Postcolonial Disappointment, 1945–1976

The article discusses the social conditions of São Tomé e Principe during the country's late colonial period under Portuguese rule and in the early years of decolonization. Particular focus is given to the social aspects of São Tomé e Principe's plantations with a particular focus on the abuse of the laborers. An overview of the self-administration of the country's plantations by the Comissões Administrativas Provisórias (Provisional Committees of Administration), which became the Comités de Acção Política (Committees of Political Action: both CAP), is also presented.Peer Reviewe

Ein Söldnerführer zwischen postkolonialen Fronten:: Bob Denard und die letzte Gefechtslinie im Congo-­Kinshasa, 1960–1968

A Mercenary Leader between Postcolonial Orders. Bob Denard and the last Frontline in Congo­Kinshasa, 1960–1968 This contribution focuses on Bob Denard, a former police officer in the French colonies and typical man on the spot, who was active in the grey area of neo-imperialistic interests during the Cold War in Congo-Kinshasa. Even though Denard was strongly influenced by materialistic and opportunistic motivations, he nevertheless was guided by anti-communist maxims. He was an outsider and situated at the margins of French sovereignty and legitimacy, but he was in many ways representative for France’s post-colonial decision-making and resentments. According to Keese Denard can in particular be considered as a personification of the frustration of the former colonial power regarding the presumably ingratitude of their co-operation partners in Africa

Ethnicity and the Colonial State

Ethnicity and the Colonial State compares the choices of community leaders in three different West African groups (Wolof, Temne, and Ewe), with regard to “selling” their identifications to the colonial rulers. The book thereby addresses ethnicity as a factor in global history. Readership: Readers interested in themes of African history in the context of global history; academic libraries; students (undergraduate and postgraduate) of global, transnational, African history; students of social anthropology; and everyone interested in a critical discussion of ethnicity as an element of identification

Introduction

Peer Reviewe

Building a New Image of Africa

Bâtir une nouvelle image de l’Afrique: les “États dissidents” et l’émergence du néocolonialisme français au lendemain de la décolonisation. — En 1958, l’État français perdit le contrôle de deux de ses anciens territoires africains, la Guinée et le Togo. Dans un premier temps, cette perte de contrôle fut totale mais les dirigeants togolais établirent rapidement une relation de travail avec Paris. Survenus entre la promulgation de la loi-cadre et la mise en place du nouveau gouvernement de Charles de Gaulle, ces événements furent un choc pour les dirigeants français. Ces derniers devaient toutefois s’adapter aux nouvelles circonstances politiques, et ils firent le choix d’adopter une nouvelle politique plutôt que d’intervenir directement. L’attitude de la France face à ces “États dissidents” devait influencer sensiblement la manière dont ces responsables politiques français allaient interpréter la situation en Afrique sub-saharienne. Ainsi, les décideurs politiques français commencèrent à considérer l’Afrique comme un champ de bataille opposant amis et ennemis, traîtres procommunistes et partenaires loyaux.In 1958, the French state lost control over two of its former African territories, Guinea and Togo. This loss of control was, at first instance, complete, although the Togolese leaders soon found a working relationship with Paris. In the period between the loi-cadre and the establishment of the new government of Charles de Gaulle, such events came as a shock to the French officials. However, they had to cope with the new political circumstances, and they did this by slowly formulating a new policy instead of intervening directly. The French experience with such “dissident states” influenced strongly how those officials would in the future interpret the situation in sub-Saharan Africa. French policy-makers would begin to see Africa as a battleground between friends and foes, between pro-Communist traitors and loyal partners