THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LEGACY OF COLONIALISM IN THE POST-INDEPENDENCE AFRICAN STATES (original) (raw)

Colonialism has impacted the political and economic conditions of the contemporary Africa. Postindependence African states are a western model. African states adopted the more centralized and authoritarian system of administration of their colonizers. Post-independence African political system is characterized by ethnic based exclusion and marginalization. African states tended to oneparty system, and though opposition parties are emerged they are highly restricted in their operation. Besides, corrupt behavior of the contemporary leaders of Africa also contributed by the colonial experience. Economic wise, African resources are extensively exploited by colonizers, thereby rendering Africa economically weak and looser in its interaction with the global economy.