Building a new image of Africa: 'dissident states' and the emergence of French neo-colonialism in the aftermath of decolonization

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Periodical article

Title:	Building a new image of Africa: 'dissident states' and the emergence of French neo-colonialism in the aftermath of decolonization
Author:	Keese, Alexander
Year:	2008
Periodical:	Cahiers d'études africaines
Volume:	48
Issue:	191
Pages:	513-530
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Guinea Togo France
Subjects:	decolonization foreign policy neocolonialism images
External link:	https://doi.org/10.4000/etudesafricaines.12092
Abstract:	In 1958, the French State lost control over two of its former African territories, Guinea and Togo. This loss of control was, at first instance, complete, although the Togolese leaders soon found a working relationship with Paris. In the period between the loi-cadre and the establishment of the new government of Charles de Gaulle, such events came as a shock to French officials. However, they had to cope with the new political circumstances, and they did this by slowly formulating a new policy instead of intervening directly. The French experience with such 'dissident states' strongly influenced how those officials would in the future interpret the situation in sub-Saharan Africa. French policymakers would begin to see Africa as a battleground between friends and foes, between pro-Communist traitors and loyal partners. Bibliogr, notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]