Systems of governance and authority Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Systems of governance and authority - Essay Example This resulted in significant losses among the European nations, both economically and politically, that had controlled resources in the Americas. The European countries ventured in Africa with a desire to maintain their wealth and political power. They promoted this new form of imperialism as a â€Å"moral obligation to civilize† the African communities (Louis, 2006). They also justified their entry and scramble for Africa with views such as seeking new markets and accessing resources for their newly formed industries. However, the main underlying reason for colonization of Africa was to seize the opportunity to demonstrate political and economic superiority over their rivals. Different countries used different approaches in exerting their influence on the African continent. The British used indirect rule while the French implemented the assimilation policy. The Belgians and Germans, on the other hand, used cruelty to maintain their control over African communities they ruled (Louis, 2006). Regardless of the tactics used, however, the hegemony over the African continent would only last a few generations before independ ence movements and revolutions emerged to help Africans regain control of their continent. Most of the communities in Africa reacted angrily to the control of the Europeans. Many of them rejected the colonial rule from the very onset. In Nigeria, for instance, the British Empire took over the region and exerted its control over the local communities. The Western African region the British took over was made up of different communities, some of which had their own leadership structures (Louis, 2006). Modern countries such as Nigeria, Benin, and Cameroun did not exist at the time the British gained control of the massive area in West Africa around River Niger. The British tried to bring the different communities together under one rule and one structure of governance. This move was met with great resistance,