A settler society, as we find it in Southern Rhodesia, is characterized as a country partly settled by European landowner-producers who have a share in the government but remain a minority of the population and remain dependent, at least for labor, on the indigenous population.1 Reorganising land ownership as a basic element in the implementation of state policy, over a period of several decades land was alienated in Southern Rhodesia for the use of white European settlers who then established a dual economy and a so called two pyramid system of society. According to Mosley, the decision to settle a white agricultural population on the land of Southern Rhodesia had set up three separate conflicts concerning how the land market should be managed: 1) between African and European producers over the ultimate ownership of the land, 2) between government seller and incoming buyer over the price of land and 3) between one type of European producer and another over the use of land.2
In this essay, I will have a look at the development of Southern Rhodesia that led to the installation of a settler economy and the different factors that played a role in it, always with special reference to the land rights.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Economic and Social Background
- Charter Rule 1890-1923
- Cecil Rhodes and the British South African Company
- Social and Political Development
- Self-Responsible Government: 1923-1930
- Political System and Legislation
- Land Apportionment Act (LAA)
- The Great Depression
- Effect on the Country's Economy
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the development of a settler economy in Southern Rhodesia, focusing on land rights and their role in shaping the political and economic landscape. It analyzes the factors that contributed to the establishment of a dual economy and a two-pyramid social system.
- The role of land apportionment in establishing a settler economy.
- The conflicts arising from land ownership between African and European producers.
- The impact of Cecil Rhodes and the British South African Company on land allocation.
- The consequences of the Land Apportionment Act.
- The economic and social background of Southern Rhodesia and its influence on land policy.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of Southern Rhodesia as a settler society, characterized by European landowners holding political power while remaining a minority dependent on the indigenous population for labor. It highlights the reorganization of land ownership as a crucial element of state policy, creating a dual economy and a "two-pyramid" social system. The chapter introduces the three major conflicts surrounding land management: between African and European producers, between the government and buyers, and between different types of European producers. The essay's focus on the development of Southern Rhodesia's settler economy and its connection to land rights is clearly outlined.
Economic and Social Background: This chapter provides a geographical and environmental overview of Southern Rhodesia, emphasizing its landlocked location, tropical climate, and uneven rainfall distribution. It details the soil composition and its limitations for agriculture, revealing that only a small percentage of the land is suitable for intensive or extensive farming. This limited arable land sets the stage for future conflicts over land resources and the shaping of land policy.
Charter Rule 1890-1923: This chapter focuses on the role of Cecil Rhodes and the British South African Company (BSAC) in shaping Southern Rhodesia. It describes how concessions granted to Rhodes led to European conquest and settlement, and the granting of a royal charter that gave the BSAC extensive powers in governance and commerce. The chapter analyzes the British decision against direct administration and the subsequent freedom afforded to settlers in shaping their political institutions. It also details how the BSAC, initially focused on mining, shifted to prioritizing land as its main asset, leading to large-scale land concessions to white immigrants. The chapter also discusses the establishment of African reserves as a means of managing land allocation and the growing tension between European expansion and African land rights.
Self-Responsible Government: 1923-1930: This section will cover the period of self-responsible government in Southern Rhodesia, examining the political system, the impact of the Land Apportionment Act, and the effects of the Great Depression on the country’s economy. It will explore how these factors further influenced the development of the settler economy and the ongoing conflicts over land resources, building upon the groundwork laid in the previous chapters. The chapter will synthesize the political and economic developments of this era, highlighting the interplay between legislation, economic pressures, and the continued marginalization of the African population.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Settler economy, Southern Rhodesia, land apportionment, British South African Company, Cecil Rhodes, dual economy, land rights, African reserves, Great Depression, colonial history, political economy.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Southern Rhodesia's Settler Economy
What is the main topic of this text?
This text examines the development of a settler economy in Southern Rhodesia, focusing on land rights and their role in shaping the political and economic landscape. It analyzes the factors that contributed to the establishment of a dual economy and a two-pyramid social system, highlighting the conflicts arising from land ownership between African and European producers.
What are the key themes explored in the text?
Key themes include the role of land apportionment in establishing a settler economy; conflicts over land ownership between African and European producers; the impact of Cecil Rhodes and the British South African Company (BSAC) on land allocation; the consequences of the Land Apportionment Act; and the economic and social background of Southern Rhodesia's influence on land policy.
What periods of Southern Rhodesian history are covered?
The text covers two main periods: Charter Rule (1890-1923), focusing on the role of the BSAC and Cecil Rhodes, and Self-Responsible Government (1923-1930), examining the impact of the Land Apportionment Act and the Great Depression.
What is the significance of the British South African Company (BSAC) and Cecil Rhodes?
The BSAC, under Cecil Rhodes' leadership, played a crucial role in the colonization of Southern Rhodesia. Their actions, including granting large-scale land concessions to white immigrants and establishing African reserves, significantly shaped the land ownership patterns and the resulting social and economic inequalities.
What was the Land Apportionment Act (LAA), and what was its impact?
The LAA was a piece of legislation that formalized the segregation of land in Southern Rhodesia, allocating the majority of arable land to European settlers and confining the African population to designated reserves. This act dramatically exacerbated existing inequalities and solidified the dual economy and two-pyramid social system.
How did the Great Depression affect Southern Rhodesia?
The Great Depression further impacted the already precarious economic situation in Southern Rhodesia, exacerbating existing tensions related to land ownership and resource allocation. The text explores how this economic downturn influenced the country’s political and social landscape.
What type of economy is analyzed in this text?
The text focuses on the development of a settler economy, a system where a minority European population controlled the majority of the land and resources, relying on the indigenous African population for labor. This created a dual economy with stark inequalities.
What are the main conflicts discussed in the text?
The text identifies three major conflicts: between African and European producers over land ownership; between the government and land buyers regarding access and allocation; and between different types of European producers competing for resources.
What is the structure of the text?
The text is structured into chapters covering an introduction, economic and social background, Charter Rule (1890-1923), and Self-Responsible Government (1923-1930). Each chapter provides a summary of its key findings and contributes to the overall narrative of Southern Rhodesia's settler economy.
What are the keywords associated with this text?
Keywords include: Settler economy, Southern Rhodesia, land apportionment, British South African Company, Cecil Rhodes, dual economy, land rights, African reserves, Great Depression, colonial history, political economy.
- Quote paper
- Christina Schmalz (Author), 2004, Political Economy in Southern Rhodesia: Land apportionment as a method for establishing a settlers’ economy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/73203
