Legacies of Islamic Rule in Africa: Colonial Responses and Contemporary Development

World Development • Vol/Iss. 152 • Elsevier • Amsterdam • Published In • Pages: 105750 •
By Bauer, Vincent, Platas, Melina R., Weinstein, Jeremy M.

Abstract

The authors of this study examine the relationships between historical exposure to Islamic kingdoms and current economic, medical, and educational development in Africa. They predict that ethnic groups that were previously ruled by Islamic states or chiefdoms will have worse outcomes today, theorizing that these worse outcomes would be not as a result of an inherent characteristic of Islam or Islamic kingdoms themselves but rather decreased investment by colonial states or missions. Their results lend some support to their hypotheses, and particularly to the predictions that Christian missions and colonial states would not be able to penetrate areas under Islamic influence as easily as other regions.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)Other researchers773 sub-Saharan African societies
Encyclopedia BrittanicaResearcher's own71 historical kingdoms in Africa

Hypotheses (5)

HypothesisSupported
Contemporary economic activity will be lower for ethnic groups historically ruled by Islamic kingdoms than for ethnic groups historically ruled by non-Islamic kingdoms. (5)Partially supported
Contemporary health outcomes will be worse for ethnic groups historically ruled by Islamic kingdoms than for ethnic groups historically ruled by non-Islamic kingdoms. (5)Supported
Contemporary educational attainment will be lower for ethnic groups historically ruled by Islamic kingdoms than for ethnic groups historically ruled by non-Islamic kingdoms. (5)Marginally supported
The number of Christian missionaries during the colonial era will be lower for ethnic groups historically ruled by Islamic kingdoms than for ethnic groups historically ruled by non-Islamic kingdoms. (5)Supported
The distribution of self-reported ages will be more distorted in areas historically governed by Islamic kingdoms than in areas historically governed by non-Islamic kingdoms. (5)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: anj.droe