Running Head: GLOBAL SOCIAL CHANGE 1
Global social change
Tavonga Masheka
T00600161
Thompson Rivers University
17/07/2022
GLOBAL SOCIAL CHANGE 2
Global social change regarding capitalism and imperialism in Africa
Description
I am planning to research the topic of “Global social change regarding capitalism and
imperialism in Africa”. In this proposal, I will discuss imperialism and dominant capitalism in
Africa and the issues that arise, and how people are affected.
Background
In Africa capitalism is natural and today, capitalism is making a comeback all over Africa. It can
have positive impacts because it increases innovation and the economy grows (Chitonage, 2018).
However, Africans were greatly impacted by imperialism. Europeans developed economic
policies but these policies did not help them. They damage the economy and culture of Africa.
These policies and dominant European imperialist countries’ actions shape the political economy
of Africa. West Africa is still controlled by the imperialist system. Despite having begun
attaining independence more than 60 years ago, West Africa is still economically reliant on its
former colonial rulers (Omobowale & Sawadogo, 2021). Exploitative resource extraction,
natural resources and their illegal trading, and mass poverty are the consequences of economic
imperialism (Dumett et al., 2016). Poverty, conflict, starvation, and other issues are visible.
However, little is said about the exploitative imperialistic processes that are the reason for the
problems like poverty in West Africa (Omobowale & Sawadogo, 2021). The purpose of this
project is to discuss imperialism and dominant capitalism in Africa. It also aims to explain the
social inequalities and other issues in Africa.
GLOBAL SOCIAL CHANGE 3
I choose this topic because there is a need to understand more about the political and social
issues of Africa. There is a need to increase awareness about African communities and social
inequities. These issues are important to discuss to eradicate social inequities and mass poverty
and to make life better for the future generation of Africa.
GLOBAL SOCIAL CHANGE 4
References
Omobowale, A. O., & Sawadogo, N. (2021). An Historical Assessment and Analysis of
Economic Imperialism in West Africa, Journal of Labor and Society (published online
ahead of print 2021). doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/24714607-bja10020
Chitonage, H. (2018) ‘Capitalism in Africa: The Old and new Lyrics’, pp. 1–9. Available at:
http://roape.net/2017/01/12/capitalism-africa-old-new-lyrics/.
Dumett, R. E. et al. (2016) ‘Review : Imperialism , Economic Development and Social Change
in West Africa Reviewed Work ( s ): Imperialism , Economic Development and Social
Change in West Africa Imperialism , Economic Development and Social Change in West
Africa’, 1(1), pp. 185–187.
