Скачать или смотреть How an entire continent was conquered: 1884 Berlin conference

The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, also known as the Congo Conference or the West Africa Conference, was a pivotal event in the history of Africa and European colonialism. It formalized and accelerated the "Scramble for Africa," a period where European powers rapidly colonized and partitioned nearly the entire African continent.

What it Was About:
Regulating the Scramble: By the 1880s, European powers were increasingly competing for territory and resources in Africa, particularly in the Congo Basin. This competition threatened to lead to inter-European conflict. German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, recognizing this danger, convened the conference to establish a set of rules and guidelines for the acquisition and division of African territory.
Preventing European Conflict: The primary motivation was not the welfare of Africans, but rather to manage the imperial ambitions of European nations and prevent them from going to war with each other over African claims.
Formalizing Claims: The conference aimed to define spheres of influence, establish criteria for claiming territory ("effective occupation"), and ensure free navigation and trade on major African rivers like the Congo and Niger.
"Humanitarian" Pretext: While largely economic and political in nature, the conference did include resolutions on ending the slave trade (though largely ignored in practice) and promoting "civilization" and "Christianity," which served as a thinly veiled justification for the imperialistic endeavor.
Who Attended:
Representatives from 14 European nations and the United States attended the conference. Crucially, no African leaders or representatives were invited or consulted, highlighting the complete disregard for African sovereignty and existing political structures.
The participating countries were:
Austria-Hungary
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Great Britain
Italy
The Netherlands
Portugal
Russia
Spain
Sweden-Norway (then unified)
Turkey (Ottoman Empire)
United States of America
The most significant players in terms of existing or future African colonial holdings were Great Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal, along with King Leopold II of Belgium, who gained personal control over the vast Congo Free State (a territory that would later become notorious for its brutal exploitation).
Consequences and Impact on Africa:
The consequences of the Berlin Conference for Africa were devastating and long-lasting:
Arbitrary Borders: The most significant and damaging outcome was the drawing of artificial colonial borders that crisscrossed the continent. These borders completely disregarded existing African ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and political boundaries. This forced disparate groups together and separated others, laying the groundwork for many of the inter-ethnic conflicts and political instabilities that have plagued post-colonial Africa.
Intensified Colonization: The conference legitimized and accelerated the "Scramble for Africa." Prior to 1884, only about 10% of Africa was under European control; by 1914, it was around 90%.
Loss of Sovereignty and Self-Determination: African nations lost their independence and control over their own destinies. European powers imposed their political systems, laws, and administrations, often suppressing indigenous governance structures.
Economic Exploitation: Africa's vast natural resources (minerals, timber, cash crops) were systematically exploited to fuel European industrialization and economic expansion, with little benefit for African populations. Forced labor, punitive taxation, and the destruction of traditional economies became common.
Human Rights Abuses: The colonial regimes established after the conference were often brutal, characterized by widespread human rights abuses, violence, and systematic oppression. The atrocities committed in the Congo Free State under King Leopold II are a stark example.
Cultural Disruption and Imposition: Traditional African cultures, languages, religions, and social systems were often suppressed or devalued in favor of European norms, leading to a loss of cultural identity.
Dependence and Underdevelopment: The colonial economic structures created a dependency on European powers for trade, technology, and finance, hindering the development of self-sufficient African economies. This has contributed to persistent underdevelopment in many post-colonial states.
Seeds of Future Conflicts: The arbitrary borders and the "divide and rule" tactics employed by colonial powers sowed seeds of discord that erupted into conflicts during the decolonization period and continue to affect the continent today.

In essence, the Berlin Conference was a moment of profound injustice where European powers unilaterally decided the fate of an entire continent, setting in motion decades of exploitation and profoundly shaping the political, social, and economic landscape of modern Africa.