If you’re interested in the history of African colonization, you should definitely include this book in your reading list. It follows the resurgence in African history in the 1960s (“resurgence” meaning it was finally taken more seriously by academia) and the recent African independence movement in the 20th century. I’m fairly familiar with African Francophone history but am not an expert in 20th century world history, even so there are a couple of points I don’t think hold up.

The general thesis of the book I think is spot on: colonialism was fueled by capitalism, and capitalism was fueled by colonialism, especially colonialism in Africa. Capitalism was just a budding concept when colonialism began, so it is impossible to say how one might have developed without the other. That being said, I don’t think socialist and communist countries are innocent parties in colonialism. Dr. Rodney mentions that North Korea should be an example to newly independent countries, and though I don’t know much about North Korea in the 70s, and even if North Korea is significantly less colonialist than more capitalist countries, it certainly fails any test of humanitarianism today. Similarly, Dr. Rodney praises China’s lack of exploitation of Africa. I’m not sure if that was true in the 70s, but today’s Belt and Road Initiative makes clear that even socialist China is more than willing to exploit developing countries to make a profit.

Even if you agree with socialist ideas, I think the book goes a little far in glorifying socialism as anti-colonialism. I think Dr. Rodney is dead on right that capitalism is inherently linked in many ways to exploitation and colonialism (either in flag or economics), and the book is worth ready even only as a historic work in itself. This laid a lot of groundwork for future studies of colonialism and the impact it continues to have on modern Africa. ( )

An extremely well-researched text detailing the effects on African people and societies of their asymmetrical relationship with European states and capitalists starting in the 16th century.

So much so, that it was somewhat hard for me to read. There were a lot of numbers, figures, and specific anecdotes which clearly were important for backing up his argument, but slowed down my reading of the book. Regardless, I took a lot out of it. I feel like I can explain how Western European states and investors contributed to the suffering of Africans and the relative poverty they face now compared to wealthier societies and more powerful states.

All that said, the author is a Marxist-Leninist. This might just be the first book I've read that speaks positively of East Germany. ( )

i mean yea if this doesn't explain it for ya i don't know what will. europe and european offshoot nations like the US have been absolutely obliterating the african population for centuries now at every level imaginable. resembles the american imperial treatment of the native americans and the treatment of black americans by american government. it really reflects itself and reveals itself everywhere. colonial control infects everything ( )

How Europe underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney tells the story of African colonization from the African point of view, it counters the Eurocentric view of Africa being uncivilized, primitive, barbaric and as well as monkeys that lived on trees. The author concludes in chapter six of the book after examining the prons and cons, that colonialism is one arm bandit. ( )

A classic in the history of Europe's exploitation of Africa. ( )