How Europe Underdeveloped Africa is a nonfiction book by Walter Rodney, a historian and political activist from Guyana. Originally published in 1972, this influential book describes how European regimes exploited Africa for their own enrichment while simultaneously creating insurmountable obstacles to economic, political, and social progress on the continent. In contrast to other scholars, who focus on the economic aspects of African development, Rodney considers economics alongside politics and various aspects of culture, such as religion and education. His broad approach offers new insights about the dialectical relationship between European development and African underdevelopment. This guide refers to the 2018 edition published by Verso Books.

Plot Summary

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa comprises six interrelated chapters. Chapter 1 defines development and underdevelopment, stressing the comparative nature of these terms. Developed nations are industrialized and have higher incomes per capita than underdeveloped countries. They also provide social services that promote well-being and happiness, and have an abundance of skilled labor, whereas underdeveloped nations lack qualified personnel like engineers, teachers, and doctors. Governments in developed countries function more efficiently than those in underdeveloped countries, which tend to have bloated administrations that stifle national wealth.

Chapter 2 describes development in Africa before the era of European imperialism. African societies were initially communal and family centric, with social relations and religion revolving around kinship and ancestors. Family also dominated land, labor, and distribution systems, which were based on kinship ties. Most African societies between the 5th century and 1500 moved from communalism toward something resembling European feudalism. Inequality emerged during this transitional period, as did new social formations. The rise in labor specialization and technological advances drove development in a range of sectors, including manufacturing and trade. Despite advances in many spheres, however, development in Africa was uneven.

Chapter 3 addresses the exploitative relationship between Europe and Africa before colonialism. Europe’s advanced state of development compared to its trading partners allowed it to dictate the terms of trade and dominate key trade routes. The growth of global trade turned Africa into an extension of Europe’s capitalist market and also created dependency in Africa, which relied on what Europe was prepared to buy and sell. The slave trade flourished in this period because Europeans needed their labor to develop the Americas. Slavery was so profitable that Europeans engaged in the trade for centuries.

Chapter 4 focuses on Europe’s role in underdeveloping Africa up to the colonial era. The slave trade devastated Africa’s work force, causing instability in other industries, like mining and agriculture. As global trade fueled European development, Africa experienced disruptions at the local level that derailed its development. The development gap allowed Europe to dominate Africa politically and geographically, thanks to new advances in weaponry that enabled European powers to acquire more land and resources. In the 19th century Europe took an antislavery stance to justify its expansionist ambitions. This reversal had profound repercussions on African communities, which had relied on the trade for centuries.

Chapter 5 focuses on Europe’s exploitation of Africa during colonialism, as Europeans seized control of virtually all aspects of African commerce. Protected markets benefited European producers at Africa’s expense, reinforcing the unequal nature of trade between the continents. In addition to fueling Europe’s economic development, Africa provided soldiers to fight in Europe and Asia during World War II. Africa also played an important role in reconstructing capitalist nations after the war. It helped ward off the threat of socialism by providing military bases for Western nations and supplying raw materials for weapons industries.

Chapter 6 is about colonialism’s role in stunting African development. Europe’s limited investment in services during the first three decades of colonialism reflects patterns of domination and exploitation. For example, Europeans realized it was economically advantageous to maintain a somewhat literate African workforce, but the schools they built functioned as tools for cultural penetration and imperialism, and further eroded traditional life. Racism also pervaded colonial education, resulting in hostility to African culture. The educational system also created an elite African class that propped up colonial regimes. Despite sustained efforts to maintain its colonies, however, Europe began withdrawing from Africa in the 1950s. Violence, political turmoil, and widespread unrest forced Europe’s hand and eventually led to African independence.