+ Springf’d Republican p11a S 5 ’20 250w
WOOLF, LEONARD SIDNEY. Empire and commerce in Africa; a study in economic imperialism. *$7 Macmillan 960
(Eng ed 20–3421)
“Omitting consideration of Egypt, Mr Woolf records in detail the history of those portions of Africa which fell under the influence of European imperialism. Separate chapters are devoted to Algeria, Tunis, Tripoli, Abyssinia, Zanzibar, and the Belgian Congo. In all cases the sequence of events as disclosed by the narrative is much the same. The awakening of covetous desire in the hearts of European statesmen; the entering wedge of commercial or financial enterprize, ostensibly promoted by private initiative but in reality fostered by the state; the eventual declaration by the home government of its intention to guarantee the integrity of the economic advantages thus gained by its citizens; the marking out of spheres of influence; the friction aroused between the powers by the crossing of imperialistic purposes, and the threat of war; the adjustment of these international differences by the devious methods of diplomacy, and the final emergence of the victor secure in the possession of the spoils. No patriotic bias is shown in the record. France, Italy, England, Germany, and Belgium are accused impartially of sordid motives and heartless conduct. A generous equipment of maps illustrates the text, and a reproduction of the necessary documents lends support to the narrative of diplomatic intrigue.”—Am Econ R
“A high order of merit is shown by the writer in his skillful disentangling of the strands of intrigue in which the imperialistic aims of the rival states are involved, and in the accomplishment of his main intent: to set forth clearly the sequence of events which discloses the true purpose of Europe in its penetration into Africa. Even those readers who cannot agree that a single motive actuates the modern state in its imperial policy will find this study of the progress of empire in Africa illuminating and suggestive.” E. S. Furniss
+ − Am Econ R 10:575 S ’20 1100w
Reviewed by W. E. B. Du Bois
Nation 111:352 S 25 ’20 580w
“This is a book of great value and startling candor. It will remind some of a Veblen satire, but it is more concrete and human than that.” W. E. B. Du Bois