Problems:
According to Griggs ‘poorly designed boundaries limit access to resources vital for development’ (Griggs: 1997). Economically the ‘poorly designed boundaries’, ‘designed by Europeans’ stand in the way of development in Africa. Boundaries designed at the Berlin conference have made ‘some states vastly wealthy in terms of land and resources, while others are just too small to be independently viable’ (R.Griggs: 1997). The colonial boundaries resulted in ‘fifteen landlocked states to be disadvantaged in trade because the tariffs and red-tape required to access sea transport reduces the value of exports’ (Griggs: 1997). Another problem within the economic sphere is that the determination of present boundaries in Africa was inconsistent; the conference was inconsistent in the sizing of the states. This inconsistency has lead to ‘one big state usually dominates the economic community –understandably causing regional tension’ (Griggs: 1997)
On a political front, colonial boundaries or today’s boundaries have a huge fault, according to Griggs, “‘nation-building’ is not really achievable in most African countries because nearly every state has deep intrastate ethnic divisions’ (Griggs: 1997). These ethnic divisions result in nations having cultural battles. With so many different cultures competing for dominance it is impossible for cultural unity to occur. By unity being a near impossibility instability has the perfect opportunity to grow and flourish.
The disadvantages in present boundaries are displayed above. What these disadvantages amount from is the frontiers of colonisation. These boundaries have resulted in an inability of African countries to develop, whether it is on a economic, political or cultural fronts. By retaining the present boundary system all countries are at a disadvantage. Even the large countries who have present territorial advantage. They are being held back from controlling international fields because of internal instability. This instability is a direct result of conflicting ideals of the current border situation. The current border situation and its negative effects are creating the opposite of what Thabo Mbeki sought in the phrase ‘African Renaissance’. Instead of boosting Africa or maintaining its current situation the border problem is placing African countries on a downward-slope.
Advantages of retaining existing boundaries:
The present boundary system has been entrenched for over a century. This period has meant political interests within the present boundaries have become fortified. Over this period there has been much instability, but it has not been in vain as democratisation has occurred and states have taken this time to shape themselves. The violent pasts of African countries are sunk costs.
Once the majority of African countries received independence the OAU was formed. The African Nationalists of the OAU saw the difficulty in making new boundaries “demography, ethnography, topography” (Herbst: 2000). In seeing many difficulties the OAU agreed not to raise the topic of changing Africa’s boundaries below is some of there reasons for supporting the current system.
The major advantage of maintaining current boundaries is that states are able to maintain sovereignty. This is displayed in the OAU’S 1963 Charter “Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of each state and for its inalieble right to independent existence” (Herbst: 2000). The other advantage of the current boundary system is that “most of the interstate conflicts in Africa that have occurred were not, as in Europe, wars of conquest that threatened the existence of another state.” (Herbst: 2000) This shows that under the present system smaller more vulnerable African countries are protected.
Conclusion:
If the borders were impulsively changed in Africa chaos would rain. I do believe some modifications can be made in the current border system, especially in the economic department. I believe all countries should have equal access to international waters. In this case I believe landlocked countries should gain access to ports without being forced to receive harsh tariffs. Africa should begin a slow process of designiying its boundaries through regional integration. This is a slow forgiving process that allows Africa to obtain the best long-term benefits. I believe a new border system can be obtained and be successful in combating many of the disadvantages of the present ‘colonial’ system.
Bibliography:
Class notes: R, Griggs:1997 and J, Herbst:2000, ‘States and Power in Africa.’ Princeton, University Press.
Class textbook (Reading Notes) Prof. WJ Breytenbach ‘Introduction to African Politics’
