Colonization Differences: Nigeria and South Korea

1213 Words5 Pages
A Mere Difference in Colonization Most developing countries have a shared history of colonization. It is this shared history that either helps or hurts the country once it gains its independence. In a majority of the situations, colonies are certainly at a disadvantage. Colonization is a system in which there is an unequal relationship between the colonizer and the colony, with an obscene amount of exploitation. The voices and opinions of the colonists are rarely heard, while the colonizer only thinks about what they can gain. Even though colonizers only act in their own self-interest, there are some circumstances in which the colony is in a position to succeed once they gain their independence. This can be seen while looking at post-colonial South Korea, while a country like Nigeria had trouble with their independence. Both of those countries were colonized, and yet while examining their economies, they are in two very different positions. Each country had different experiences with colonialism, which affected each very differently. The brutal period of Japanese colonization of South Korea led to a highly developed economy during independence, while British colonization of Nigeria led to economic failure. Under British colonial rule, numerous changes were implemented in Nigeria. Arguably the biggest change that the British made was the politicization of ancestral city rather than religion. With northern Nigeria significantly more Muslim and the southern part of the country predominantly Christian, it is surprising that religion did not become more salient. Britain enforced hegemonic administration, which is when a central administration has the motivation and power to structure the pattern of political groups formation in society. According to David Laitin, “The British colonial state, interested in political control at a low cost, found it useful

More about Colonization Differences: Nigeria and South Korea

Open Document