Question

research the Congo Crisis of 1960. In the space below, explain how the colonial powers' actions of creating the Republic of Congo may represent a false interpretation of history from a European viewpoint. Your answer should be 100 words or more in length.

Answer 1

The colonial powers, namely Belgium, made a classic colonial error of assuming the state that they had arbitrarily created, and defined the borders of, would maintain a national identity following the departure of the colonial power. The Republic of Congo was not historically a cohesive state prior to the arrival of the Europeans, and there were several distinct peoples living in the area with distinct cultures and interests. This led to a violent struggle for power following the departure of the Belgians.