European colonialism and the grand strategy myth: The case of the Cape colony

European colonialism and the grand strategy myth: The case of the Cape colony Erik Green, Professor at Lund University in Sweden, investigates European colonialism and the myth of a grand strategy, setting forth the case of the Cape colony. For decades, the motivations underlying European expansion and territorial control in 19th-century Africa have been the subject of considerable scholarly debate. While some scholars argue that these efforts were primarily political in nature, others emphasise economic drivers (see sources). A common thread in much of this literature is the portrayal of colonialism as part of a coherent, overarching strategy. In retrospect, particularly given the rapid and near-total colonisation of Africa by European powers within a short timeframe, this interpretation may seem persuasive. However, recent contributions – such as Green (2022) and Carlos, Green, Links, and Redish (2024) – propose a more nuanced and complex understanding of the processes that led to European territorial control in Africa.