Wolne Państwo Kongo (1885 – 1908) i relacje współczesnych mu przeciwników

Krzysztof Bielecki

doi:10.56583/fs.267

Published : 2011-12-31

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2011)

Congo Free State (1885 – 1908) and accounts of its contemporary adversaries

Krzysztof Bielecki

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56583/fs.267

Abstract

Congo Free State was created at the Berlin Conference which took place in the years 1884-1885. This state existed from 1 July 1885 to 15 November 1908. Its origin was an outcome of a compromise between the ambitions of Leopold II, King of Belgium, and superpowers interests. The state was the private property of Leopold II and as a product of diplomatic games was regarded by some people as an attempt at implementing Plato’s conception of the ideal state. From the very beginning Congo Free State inspired strong objection and indignation, because in fact it was an emanation of extreme oppression of a colonizing country towards colonized territories. The main source of such a situation lay in the rapid development of free-market economy and its concomitant-worldwide expansion. In this article I will outline history of Congo Free State, as well as arguments and actions of its adversaries. One of the results of these actions was the annexation of Congo Free State by the Kingdom of Belgium in 1908. Congo Free State was then transformed into a classic colony named Belgian Congo.

Keywords:

Congo Question, Leopold II, Henry Morton Stanley, Berlin Congress, Belgian colonial system, International African Association, Congo Reform Association

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Bielecki , K. (2011). Congo Free State (1885 – 1908) and accounts of its contemporary adversaries. Facta Simonidis, 4(1), 51–76. https://doi.org/10.56583/fs.267

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