Date of Award

Spring 2022

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Historical & Political Studies; College of Arts & Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Angela Kachuyevski

Abstract

Colonialism has influenced the development of states on the African continent. This study examines the extent to which colonialism affects the economic growth and the political democratic development of two former British colonies: Kenya and Nigeria. Two theories, Dependency Theory and Neopatrimonialism Theory, argue that institutions, whether economic or political, established during the colonial period impact modern African states' economic and governmental development. Using pattern matching, I operationalized several variables of study such as economic underdevelopment, functioning democracy, power dynamics, and Settler and Non-settler colonial institutions. The results suggest that government corruption, lack of transparency in elections, poor security forces, and overall economic dependency on the international system impedes Kenya and Nigeria’s economic and political development, indicating that underdevelopment relates to policies implemented during their respective colonial periods.

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Colonialism and the African States: A Case Study

Colonialism has influenced the development of states on the African continent. This study examines the extent to which colonialism affects the economic growth and the political democratic development of two former British colonies: Kenya and Nigeria. Two theories, Dependency Theory and Neopatrimonialism Theory, argue that institutions, whether economic or political, established during the colonial period impact modern African states' economic and governmental development. Using pattern matching, I operationalized several variables of study such as economic underdevelopment, functioning democracy, power dynamics, and Settler and Non-settler colonial institutions. The results suggest that government corruption, lack of transparency in elections, poor security forces, and overall economic dependency on the international system impedes Kenya and Nigeria’s economic and political development, indicating that underdevelopment relates to policies implemented during their respective colonial periods.