Britain, France and the Decolonization of Africa: Future Imperfect?

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Andrew W.M. Smith, Chris Jeppesen
UCL Press, Mar 1, 2017 - History - 254 pages
Looking at decolonization in the conditional tense, this volume teases out the complex and uncertain ends of British and French empire in Africa during the period of ‘late colonial shift’ after 1945. Rather than view decolonization as an inevitable process, the contributors together explore the crucial historical moments in which change was negotiated, compromises were made, and debates were staged.
Three core themes guide the analysis: development, contingency and entanglement. The chapters consider the ways in which decolonization was governed and moderated by concerns about development and profit. A complementary focus on contingency allows deeper consideration of how colonial powers planned for ‘colonial futures’, and how divergent voices greeted the end of empire. Thinking about entanglements likewise stresses both the connections that existed between the British and French empires in Africa, and those that endured beyond the formal transfer of power.

Praise for Britain, France and the Decolonization of Africa

'…this ambitious volume represents a significant step forward for the field. As is often the case with rich and stimulating work, the volume gestures towards more themes than I have space to properly address in this review. These include shifting terrains of temporality, spatial Scales, and state sovereignty, which together raise important questions about the relationship between decolonization and globalization. By bringing all of these crucial issues into the same frame,Britain, France and the Decolonization of Africa is sure to inspire new thought-provoking research.'

H-France vol. 17, issue 205

 

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About the author (2017)

Andrew W.M. Smith is a historian of the French and Francophone world. His work focuses on concepts of centre and periphery, analysing various contexts in which this relationship has shaped developments within and beyond the structures of the modern state.Smith is currently Teaching Fellow at UCL and the Secretary of the Society for the Study of French History.

Chris Jeppesen is a historian of Britain and the British empire during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His work focuses on the shifting place of empire within British culture, in particular in the period after the Second World War. He has previously written on the motivation behind careers in empire during the twentieth century, and is currently Teaching Fellow at UCL.