The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the Evolution of Political Authority in West Africa

Arbeitspapier

I trace the impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade on the evolution of political authority in West Africa. I present econometric evidence showing that the trans-Atlantic slave trade increased absolutism in pre-colonial West Africa by approximately 17% to 35%, while reducing democracy and liberalism. I argue that this slavery-induced absolutism also influenced the structure of African political institutions in the colonial era and beyond. I present aggregate evidence showing that British colonies that exported more slaves in the era of the slave trade were ruled more-indirectly by colonial administrations. I argue that indirect colonial rule relied on sub-national absolutisms to control populations and extract surplus, and in the process transformed absolutist political customs into rule of law. The post-colonial federal authority, like the colonial authority before it, lacked the administrative apparatus and political clout to integrate these local authorities, even when they wanted to. From this perspective, state-failure in West Africa may be rooted in a political and economic history that is unique to Africa in many respects, a history that dates at least as far back as the era of the transatlantic slave trade.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-91-980438-8-4
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: African Economic History Working Paper Series ; No. 13/2013

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: Africa; Oceania ; Economic History: Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation: Africa; Oceania ; Economic History: Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries: Africa; Oceania
• Subject: Africa ; slavery ; trade ; political authority ; rule of law

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Whatley, Warren C.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): African Economic History Network (AEHN)
• (where): s.l.
• (when): 2013

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/242642
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET