RESURSI I GEOPOLITIČKA PRISUTNOST STRANIH SILA U AFRICI

professional thesis

• Author: Julijan Tomšić
• Mentor: Marta Zorko (mentor)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; The Faculty of Political Science; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-10-06, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Political Science

Abstract

Svjetski međunarodni odnosi oduvijek su prožeti neprestanom dinamikom i potrebom za kontinuiranim nadmetanjem snažnih aktera. Tijekom cjelokupne znane povijesti moćne su sile projicirale vlastitu snagu i moć na bliske, ali i udaljene teritorije. Šahovske ploče, odnosno područja i teritoriji na kojima su nastojale ostvariti svoju dominaciju u pravilu su bile razvaline nekada moćnih carstava ili nova još neistražena i udaljena područja naseljena tehnološki inferirornijim narodima. Dolazak Europljana na područje Afrike uvjetovan je potrebom za resursima koji su imali biti zamašnjak započetih industrijskih revolucija u tim razvijenim državama, izvor jeftine radne snage kao i nalaženje novih tržišta svojim proizvodima. U tome kontekstu, svrha rada nije prezentiranje i povijesni pregled područja koje su osvajale određene europske kolonizatorske države, već je cilj prikazati duboke tragove u mentalnom stanju i društvenom kontekstu koje su isti ostavili na stanovništvo Afrike, a kao izravnu posljedicu svojeg stoljetnog prisustva. Izuzetno bogatstvo naftnim i mineralnim resursima te sirovinama kojima Afrika raspolaže, prikazan je kao premda ne jedini, ipak dominantan razlog intenzivnog angažmana i upliva vanjskih sila. Rad donosi i prikaz motiva i operativnog djelovanja geopolitičkih sila, ne ulazeći u konkretne politike i nakane pojedinih država prisutnih u Africi (izuzev Kine u studiji slučaja) za nastavkom kontrole afričkih političkih procesa, kako od strane država bivših kolonizatora, tako i novih aktera na globalnoj pozornici. Istovremeno, razmatraju se i eventualne prednosti, poput ubrzanog tehnološkog razvoja koje bi afričkim državama mogla donijeti činjenica kako se na njihovom teritoriju za naklonost, već više od stoljeća nadmeću najmoćnije i tehnološki najdominantnije svjetske velesile.

Abstract (english)

World international relations have always been imbued with constant dynamics and the need for continuous competition of strong actors. Throughout known history, powerful forces have projected their own strength and power into near and far territories. Chessboards, or should we say, the areas and territories in which they sought to achieve their dominance, were usually the ruins of once powerful empires or new and yet unexplored or remote areas inhabited by technologically inferior peoples. The arrival of Europeans in Africa was conditioned by the need for resources that were meant to be the driving force of the industrial revolutions in these developed countries, a source of cheap labor as well as finding new markets for their products. In this context, the purpose of this paper and/or thesis is not to present and historically review the areas conquered by certain European colonizing states, but to show the deep traces in the mental state and social context they left on the population of Africa, as a direct consequence of their centuries-old presence. The extraordinary wealth of oil and mineral resources and raw materials that Africa has at its disposal, is presented as although not the only, but still the dominant reason for the intensive engagement and influence of external forces. The paper also presents the motives and operational activities of geopolitical forces, without entering into the specific policies and intentions of individual states present in Africa (except China in the case study) to continue control of African political processes, both by former colonizers and new actors in the global stages. At the same time, possible advantages are being considered, such as the accelerated technological development that could be brought to African countries by the fact that the most powerful and technologically dominant world superpowers have been competing in their territory for more than a century.

• Keywords: Afrika; Kolonijalno naslijeđe; Povijest Afrike; Kolonizacija uma; Imperijalizam; Europske kolonijalne sile; Asimilacija; Korupcija; Multinacionalne kompanije; Upravljanje resursima; Ekstrakcija resursa; Komparativna analiza; Kina u Africi; Model Angole
• Keywords (english): Africa; Colonial Heritage; History of Africa; Colonization of the Mind; Imperialism; European colonial powers; Assimilation; Corruption; Multinational companies; Resource management; Resource extraction; Comparative analysis; China in Africa; Angola Model
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:114:567779
• Study programme: Title: Security Politics of the Republic of Croatia; Study programme type: university; Study level: postgraduate specialist; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a specijalist/specijalistica za nacionalnu sigurnost (sveučilišni/a specijalist/specijalistica za nacionalnu sigurnost)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Access restricted to students and staff of home institution
• Created on: 2022-02-13 21:22:46