«Travail Libre ou Travali Forc»? – Die «Arbeiterfrage» im belgischen Kongo 1908-1930

Abstract

«Travail Libre ou Travail Forcé»? – The Question of Labourers in Belgian Congo (1908–1930)

In 1908, the Congo Free State was transformed into a Belgian colony. This meant, in practice, the dissolution of King Leopold's regime of force, which was characterized by ruthless and brutal exploitation of the African workforce. The expansion of the colonial economy suffered from the shortage of voluntary African workers, so that after World War I the colonial state resorted to using forced labour. Specific local social and economic structures further hindered the integration of the African population into a European model of wage labour. Bad labour and living conditions, as well as low wages, represented other obstacles. The integration of the Congo into the world economy depended on the ability of the state and private companies to mobilize workers. These institutions managed this only through violence and force.