Monstrous predatory vampires and beneficent fairy-godmothers : British post-war colonial development in Africa
This thesis explores the concept of colonial development, as enacted by the Attlee government during the immediate post-war period. It focuses on Africa, reflecting the âsecond colonial occupationâ of the continent during this period, and examines both economic and social welfare development initiatives. Post-war colonial development in the British African territories had two main aims: firstly, to increase the production of raw materials, to aid the reconstruction of the metropole and earn dollars on the international markets; and secondly, to improve the standard of living among colonial populations. This thesis explores the contradictions inherent in these two types of development. It can be seen that, although Britain was largely unsuccessful in this period with economic development programmes in Africa, it had some modest success with colonial social-welfare initiatives. The thesis also examines the extent to which Arthur Creech Jones, Colonial Secretary 1946-1950, shaped colonial policy in Africa based on his Fabian beliefs. It examines how far British colonial policy in this period can be characterised as âsocialistâ, and how far metropolitan and colonial populations were separated by narratives
Riley, C. L.
Monstrous predatory vampires and beneficent fairy-godmothers : British post-war colonial development in Africa. This thesis explores the concept of colonial development, as enacted by the Attlee government during the immediate post-war period. It focuses on Africa, reflecting the âsecond colonial occupationâ of the continent during this period, and examines both economic and social welfare development initiatives. Post-war colonial development in the British African territories had two main aims: firstly, to increase the production of raw materials, to aid the reconstruction of the metropole and earn dollars on the international markets; and secondly, to improve the standard of living among colonial populations. This thesis explores the contradictions inherent in these two types of development. It can be seen that, although Britain was largely unsuccessful in this period with economic development programmes in Africa, it had some modest success with colonial social-welfare initiatives. The thesis also examines the extent to which Arthur Creech Jones, Colonial Secretary 1946-1950, shaped colonial policy in Africa based on his Fabian beliefs. It examines how far British colonial policy in this period can be characterised as âsocialistâ, and how far metropolitan and colonial populations were separated by narratives
beneficent british post_war colonial development africa explores concept colonial development enact attlee_government immediate_post war_period focus africa reflect second colonial occupation continent period examines economic_social welfare development initiative post_war colonial development british african territory two_main aim_firstly increase_production raw_material aid reconstruction metropole earn international market secondly improve standard living among colonial population explores contradiction inherent two_type development see although britain largely unsuccessful period economic_development programme africa modest success colonial social_welfare initiative also_examine extent jones colonial secretary shape colonial_policy africa base belief examines far british_colonial policy period_characterise socialist far metropolitan colonial population separate narrative