Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism

Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism (1965) is a nonfiction work by Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and then-President of Ghana, who was a leading figure in the Pan-African movement. In the book, Nkrumah argues that former colonial powers and other capitalist countries continued to subjugate African nations and other colonized regions even after they achieved formal independence. The book criticizes the global capitalist framework and voices a call to action for developing nations to seek true economic and political sovereignty.

This guide uses the 1965 Thomas Nelson edition.

Content Warning: The source text deals extensively with racism, colonialism, and acts of political violence.

Summary

Neo-Colonialism begins with an Introduction, in which Kwame Nkrumah presents this latest stage of imperialism as its most dangerous but final stage. Even though so many former colonies are gaining independence, the structures of colonialism remain in place. Through banking systems, private companies, and diplomatic tools, the imperial powers have continued their exploitation of their former colonies. As the former leader of Ghana—someone who has overseen the independence and continued exploitation of his home country—Nkrumah is in a unique position to describe and analyze this exploitation.