Imperialism and Primitive Accumulation: Notes on the New Scramble for Africa

This article recuperates the links between imperialism and primitive accumulation, arguing that the two are inherently connected. It undertakes a review of the literature to show that the links are deeper than is often recognized, as in the work of David Harvey. It also maps the stages of imperialism, their logics and characteristics, from the initial expansion of merchant capitalism, through monopoly capitalism and its financialization, which is now leading a ‘new scramble’. The article shows how the various scrambles for Africa have evolved, including past and present land grabs, as well as the nature of resistance.