Work

The Long-Run Effects of the Scramble for Africa

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: We explore the consequences of ethnic partitioning, a neglected aspect of the Scramble for Africa, and uncover the following. First, apart from the land mass and water bodies, split and non-split groups are similar across several dimensions. Second, the incidence, severity, and duration of political violence are all higher for partitioned homelands which also experience frequent military interventions from neighboring countries. Third, split groups are often entangled in a vicious circle of government-led discrimination and ethnic wars. Fourth, respondents from survey data identifying with split ethnicities are economically disadvantaged. The evidence highlights the detrimental repercussions of the colonial border design. (JEL D72, D74, F51, J15, O15, O17, Z13)

Source: American Economic Review

DOI: 10.1257/aer.20131311

Authors: Stelios Michalopoulos, Elias Papaioannou

Institutions: Center for Economic and Policy Research, National Bureau of Economic Research, Brown University, Centre for Economic Policy Research, London Business School

Language: English

Topic: Political Conflict and Governance

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Economic and Social Research Council