The rule of law and racial difference in the British Empire | Aeon Essays
Briefly

In his work "The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa," F D Lugard articulated that Europe enjoyed increased amenities post-colonization, implying a dichotomy between European advancement and African savagery.
The concept of terra nullius, indicating that colonised lands were devoid of Indigenous laws or governance, facilitated European claims to absolute territorial rights during colonial expansion.
The Berlin Conference exemplified European disregard for existing African political structures by allowing 13 states to carve up the continent as if it were empty land, reinforcing colonial legal frameworks.
Colonial law effectively replaced Indigenous systems, asserting British dominance while dismissing African governance and political rights, highlighting the exploitative nature of the colonial legal framework.
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