Article ID: CBB930855942

Science for Competition among Powers: Geographical Knowledge, Colonial-Diplomatic Networks, and the Scramble for Africa (2020)

unapi

Historical studies on the relationship between science and diplomacy tend to focus on events since World War II and on initiatives for the maintenance of peace or to achieve cooperation over contentious matters. This article presents the case of José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage (1823–1907), a Portuguese zoologist who had formal diplomatic responsibilities in a context of competition for the colonization of Africa in the nineteenth century. He used his knowledge in African geography to implement colonial and diplomatic strategies that aimed at outcompeting rival powers. The development of a network of actors with scientific, colonial, and diplomatic expertise was crucial for the negotiations that involved the partition of the Congo basin, which resulted in victories for Portugal that surpassed the country's marginal political relevance at the international level and had long-lasting consequences.

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Authors & Contributors
Pereira, Hugo Silveira
Bastos, Cristiana
Sohoni, Pushkar
Daniel Gamito-Marques
Tim Riding
Altić, Mirela
Concepts
Colonialism
Portugal, colonies
Imperialism
Belgium, colonies
Foreign relations; diplomacy
Geography
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
20th century, early
20th century, late
18th century
17th century
Places
Congo
Portugal
Africa
Mozambique
Angola
India
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