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An economic history of British colonialism in Southern Africa, 1880–1980

Green, Erik LU and Pilossof, Rory (2026)
Abstract
The economic history of British colonialism in Southern Africa is defined by three interrelated dynamics: the initial expansion driven by chartered companies, a substantial influx of European settlers, and the establishment of racially segregated, unequal Neo-European societies. In this chapter, we show how the discovery of minerals in the nineteenth century radically reshaped the economic and social fabric of Southern Africa. The expansion of British territorial control was followed by a significant inflow of European immigrants. Colonial policies were designed to favour this White minority at the expense of indigenous peoples. As a result, some newly independent countries in Southern Africa (like Zambia and Malawi) inherited economies... (More)
The economic history of British colonialism in Southern Africa is defined by three interrelated dynamics: the initial expansion driven by chartered companies, a substantial influx of European settlers, and the establishment of racially segregated, unequal Neo-European societies. In this chapter, we show how the discovery of minerals in the nineteenth century radically reshaped the economic and social fabric of Southern Africa. The expansion of British territorial control was followed by a significant inflow of European immigrants. Colonial policies were designed to favour this White minority at the expense of indigenous peoples. As a result, some newly independent countries in Southern Africa (like Zambia and Malawi) inherited economies that were heavily dependent on a few key exports and lacked the industrial base necessary for sustainable development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Routledge Handbook of the Economic History of Colonialism
pages
14 pages
publisher
Routledge
ISBN
9781003397434
DOI
10.4324/9781003397434
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2831d7ed-7cca-4a9a-9930-512c3ea60e64
date added to LUP
2026-09-01 08:54:11
date last changed
2026-09-01 10:26:22
@inbook{2831d7ed-7cca-4a9a-9930-512c3ea60e64,
  abstract     = {{The economic history of British colonialism in Southern Africa is defined by three interrelated dynamics: the initial expansion driven by chartered companies, a substantial influx of European settlers, and the establishment of racially segregated, unequal Neo-European societies. In this chapter, we show how the discovery of minerals in the nineteenth century radically reshaped the economic and social fabric of Southern Africa. The expansion of British territorial control was followed by a significant inflow of European immigrants. Colonial policies were designed to favour this White minority at the expense of indigenous peoples. As a result, some newly independent countries in Southern Africa (like Zambia and Malawi) inherited economies that were heavily dependent on a few key exports and lacked the industrial base necessary for sustainable development.}},
  author       = {{Green, Erik and Pilossof, Rory}},
  booktitle    = {{Routledge Handbook of the Economic History of Colonialism}},
  isbn         = {{9781003397434}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  title        = {{An economic history of British colonialism in Southern Africa, 1880–1980}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003397434}},
  doi          = {{10.4324/9781003397434}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}