SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies

BIS 2103: INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

ASSIGNEMENT 1

Student ID: 135301

Question:

“Discuss the dependency decolonization debate using any case Study”

“Côte d'Ivoire in relation with France”

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 INTRODUCTION

The two terms, dependency and decolonization are mostly used in the international system
but more in the social sciences to explain the economic development of states for the
dependency theory. On the other hand, decolonization theory is an ideology by which we, as
a global community can decolonize our languages, histories, and knowledge so that we
cannot be defined as the other in relation to Wester values.
The Dependency theory has been developed during the late 1950s and over the following
decades. The theory is also associated with some Marxist scholar such as Andre Gunder
Frank, Paul A. Baran and Paul Sweezy.

After defining the two terms, we can try to show their relationship within the international
system by going straight to the case study where we will discuss the two theories, the
dependency decolonization debate. It is more than just a discussion because for the African
continent for example, we will try to understand either the continent is trying to decolonize,
or it still depends on the western in terms of economy, politics etc. Of course, the dependency
theory being a mixture of historical structure theory, world systems theory and neo-Marxist
theory. All together will bring us to introduce and talk about the modernization theory and its
impact the dependency and decolonization debate.
This paper will argue on the debate about the dependency decolonization in Africa, especially
under the French colonies states and will interrogate why the debate still an abstract debate
since the implication of some international organizations created by powerful states which
continue to promote the neo-colonization in the post-colonial time.

One state in Africa has brought our attention to well grasp the dependency decolonization
debate which is the Côte d'Ivoire in relation with France in all forms which means,
diplomatically, economically, and politically etc. By discussing this case, we will try to
understand the nature of their relation, where they come from, where they have reached and
where they are going. A small historic about their relationship will be our guide to understand
The nature of their relationship.

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The relation between Côte d'Ivoire and France started in the early 1960s just after there
independency. Their foreign policy was generally favourable toward the west as they joined
the United Nations in 1960 and the state was present in most of the UN specialized agencies.
Houphouet-Boigny, who was their first present came up with the idea and objective of
maintaining an organic relation with France. The big question here is, was this objective on
the interest of citizens? We cannot say yes it was or deny but for what we know one party of
their relation was exploring another in terms of resources which is France.
Under Houphouet-Boigny regime, he tried to play the US off against France, but with less
effort because both US and France were interesting in their resources. For him, the French
was more sensitive, and he understood that he needed them more than the US. Due to that
Côte d'Ivoire kept the CFA franc (Cours de franc africain) as its basic currency after
independence.
Something interesting during that time that we can still ask ourselves even today because the
state still using that currency. As a state they gained independence, but they opted for a
currency controlled by France. Is that a concrete independence? Why would they go for a
currency controlled by the metropolis country which is France?
France remained one of the most foreign partners of Côte d'Ivoire due to some bilateral
agreement they have signed plus the numerous Franco-Ivoirian cooperation. Due to that,
French is Côte d'Ivoire official language, the state adopted the French legal system, for their
security a French marine brigade has been stationed in Abidjan (the Capital city), more than a
thousand expatriates from French work in Côte d'Ivoire and in the CFA is tied to the Euro.

Knowing that the dependency theory tries to answer the following question or problem: Why
do some countries become rich while others remain poor? For our case, it obvious to answer
this problem. As a state, we give another state to control our currency. In other word, we have
given power in all form to that state. If they have a say to our currency, this means they can
control our economy, our politic and all other things. This directly answers the problem of the
dependency theory because if we cannot control our economy as a state how will we
develop?

In 2002, the government of Côte d'Ivoire criticized France for its failure to respect the
commitment under their mutual defence of 1961 just one year of the independence which had
a goal of capturing the rebel-held in the areas. For them, the French Military and diplomatic
effort was to promote and still promoting the peaceful resolution of Crisis.
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When the government criticized France, they sent over additional troops, a total of
approximately 4000 troops. Well, that was a lot for them to protect their interest in Côte
d'Ivoire. A hidden goal of course. When rebels are disturbing the exportation of their most
precious product which is cocoa, they have to react of course by sending troops, not of course
for the interest of Ivoirian but for their own interest, to protect the cocoa plantations and
ensure that the trade was still going well.

One of the great deal debates within the dependency theory leads to some competing
perspectives and discourses. On one hand is about the relationship between developed states
and undeveloped ones, and on the other hand states that have emerged and the ones that are
emerging. With this perspective, the dependency theory tries to show the different and often
ways of examinations relationship between states.

Of course, Côte d'Ivoire still under the neo-colonization of French and the international
community is keeping quiet about that while on the other hand Ivorians leaders t are also
trying to decolonize the system because they are in a position where they are not gaining but
losing.

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References:
Europe and Africa: Decolonization or Dependency? on JSTOR
Why France must tread carefully in Ivory Coast - BBC News
08.pdf (scielo.org.za)
Decolonization – Literary Theory and Criticism (literariness.org)

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