THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON THE POLITICS OF CAMEROON
THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM ON THE POLITICS OF CAMEROON

Summary/Abstract: The 1884-1885 Berlin Conference was a gathering of European nations that aimedto establish territorial boundaries and mitigate potential conflicts in the pursuit of colonialism. TheEuropean colonization of Africa had a profound impact on the political consciousness of the Africanpopulation, which was essential for the continent's advancement. Colonial institutions havesignificantly affected the political atmosphere that has emerged in the aftermath of independence. Thisarticle employs a historical methodology and conducts a thorough review of multiple types of empiricalliterature and materials to examine the impact of colonialism on Cameroon's politics. This paperexamines the political administrative strategies of colonial administrations in Cameroon and theirimpact on political development, emphasizing the significance of colonialism in understanding thecurrent political climate in Cameroon. The German colonization of Cameroon commenced in the 1880sand concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. After World War I, Germany lostits colonial territory in Cameroon, and Cameroon was partitioned into French and British trustterritories. The French colonizers in Cameroon implemented the "assimilation policy," whichcompelled Cameroonians to adhere to the French cultural norms and beliefs. Cameroonians who hadintegrated into French society were acknowledged as members of the French community,notwithstanding the restricted access to education. Governors of British colonies claimed that althoughCameroonians were not political allies of the British, they were expressing political power in thenation. The British administrative approach of indirect rule permitted only Cameroonians to exercisepolitical authority over their compatriots. The discourse concerning the influence of colonization onCameroonian politics endures. Some argue that it led to resource depletion, labor exploitation, andcultural ruin, while others assert that it improved Cameroonian politics. The study found that the threecolonial governments that imposed their policies on Cameroon have had impacts on the nation'spolitics and philosophy, resulting in a sacrifice of their own values and traditions. As a result, aWestern-style political framework has disregarded local perspectives and political ideas

• Details
• Contents