Student Type
Graduate
University
Old Dominion University
Country
United States
Document Type
Conference Paper
Description/Abstract
This paper examines and evaluates the state of development in Mauritania, a former French colony in West Africa. The drivers of (under)development that the paper focuses on are institutions. By focusing on institutions as the main factors that determine the development process of the country, I also focus on the colonial origins of institutions. Hence, in this paper, I draw on Acemoglu and colleagues’ argument on the origin of colonial origins of institutions as they identify two types of colonial institutions—Inclusive and Exclusive (Acemoglu et.al.2001). However, in this research, I argue that there is a third type of institution the “status quo institution”. This is a situation where the colonizer does not engage in any significant institution-building but relies on the existing form of systems in the colony. I use the case of Mauritania a former France colony to illustrate the existence of the third type of colonial institution.
Disciplines
African History | African Studies | International Relations
DOI
10.25776/cjzc-ym31
Session Title
Colonialism: Past, Present, and Future
Location
Webb Center, Isle of Wight Room
Start Date
2-10-2023 12:00 AM
End Date
2-10-2023 12:00 AM
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The Colonial Origins of Institutions in Mauritanina
Webb Center, Isle of Wight Room
This paper examines and evaluates the state of development in Mauritania, a former French colony in West Africa. The drivers of (under)development that the paper focuses on are institutions. By focusing on institutions as the main factors that determine the development process of the country, I also focus on the colonial origins of institutions. Hence, in this paper, I draw on Acemoglu and colleagues’ argument on the origin of colonial origins of institutions as they identify two types of colonial institutions—Inclusive and Exclusive (Acemoglu et.al.2001). However, in this research, I argue that there is a third type of institution the “status quo institution”. This is a situation where the colonizer does not engage in any significant institution-building but relies on the existing form of systems in the colony. I use the case of Mauritania a former France colony to illustrate the existence of the third type of colonial institution.