Neo-Colonialism and the Question of National Autonomy

Abstract

The focus of this paper is to critically analyze the place of national autonomy in a neocolonised state. National autonomy– the ability of a nation–state to make and enforce decisions which shape its political and economic future, has greatly been subjugated by neocolonialism-the efforts of the former colonial and new powers to maintain colonial control over independent 3 rd world states by other means, such as, the international financial institutions and their globalization propaganda. The concept of neocolonialism first originated in Africa, probably with Nkruma, and received collective recognition at the 1961 All-African People's Conference. While critics of these institutions argue that the advance nations profits from cheap labour and raw materials in the underdeveloped states, others accept that it ultimately does serve as a positive modernizing force for development. Therefore, it has always been the case that strategies of development conceived in the developed countries have been accepted by the 3 rd world nations, despite their in appropriateness. The paper expresses the view that a poor country that rejects interconnectedness based on the IMF and other international financial institutions conditionality, must also find new means of relating itself to other countries, for the autonomy of the 3 rd world states has become a phenomena that the advance states can no longer afford to Copyright © IAARR 2010: www.afrrevjo.net 191 Indexed African Journals Online: www.ajol.info grant. It concluded that 3 rd world leaders must therefore realize that the present world order is part of their problem and not the solution. Introduction The twentieth century marked the end of colonialism and the emergence of its twin form, neo colonialism. This concept implies the effort of former colonial nations to continue the control of the colonies by subtle means. It is the establishment of a form of control without the encumbrance of physical possession or actual colonial rule.