European Identities in Africa (Late Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries): An Introduction

Abstract This special issue brings together contributions from scholars covering different imperial formations in Africa to discuss the changing aspects of European identities and the complexities surrounding the concept of being ‘European’ in colonial settings in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The articles examine different strategies and mechanisms employed by historical actors and their continual adaptation of their identities to the local and global transformations surrounding them. This introductory text offers a reflection on why identity remains a useful lens through which to examine colonial frameworks and dynamics of power and expand our knowledge of the role of evolving local societies in shaping modern imperialism.