Colonialism, Neo-colonialism and Persistent Poverty in Africa: India’s Role as Development Partner

Africa, a continent of rich cultural, ethnic and geopolitical diversity, was exploited by many European powers. The systematic exploitation of the region by the European colonial powers not only extracted its vast natural resources but also forced out the artificial political borders and disrupted the indigenous forms of governance. These colonial interventions left behind lasting legacies of economic dependence, social disintegration, and institutional frailty that largely determined the continent’s developmental path in the post-colonial period. The article attempts to elaborate on neo-colonialism through the lens of dependency theory and also attempts to determine whether dependency theory can offer a tangible solution to Africa’s neo-colonial issues. Neo-colonial relations persisted in the form of trade imbalances imposed by Western powers and the SAPs of the IMF and the World Bank. The article also examines the debt-trap policy that China is offering through the BRI. This article explores the potential role of India in shaping an alternative development path. Historically, India’s approach to Africa has been based on a deep commitment to forging mutually beneficial and lasting partnerships. The article outlines the opportunities and problems inherent in India–Africa development collaboration. The article concludes with some forward-looking suggestions to augment India–Africa collaboration as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive development.