A Leading Actor in British Imperial Expansion in Africa: Cecil John Rhodes

Year 2026, Volume: 25 Issue: 1, 221 - 237, 29.01.2026

Habibe Temizsu

Abstract

The colonial competition that accelerated following the Age of Geographical Discoveries reached its peak in the nineteenth century, during which Britain achieved a marked superiority over other European colonial powers. The period extending from the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to the First World War is commonly referred to in the literature as the “British Imperial Century.” Reducing this superiority to a single cause is impossible; nor can it be regarded merely as coincidence or fate. Britain’s global achievements were the outcome of multilayered and systematic policies implemented across a wide range of fields—from settlement and education to science, commerce, and missionary activity. Likewise, direct and indirect systems of governance, as well as administrative approaches that varied from region to region, must be mentioned within this framework. During this process, numerous influential actors emerged who shaped Britain’s imperial expansion. Among these figures, Cecil John Rhodes (1853–1902) stood out as one of the most consequential, leaving a significant mark on the final quarter of the nineteenth century and playing a decisive role in the British colonisation of the African continent, particularly its southern regions. So profound was his influence that he envisioned extending it from Cape to Cairo through a railway line designed to link the entire continent from one end to the other. Entering the business world as a miner, Rhodes soon became one of the leading names in the diamond industry; following this rapid ascent, he entered politics and came to regard the expansion of the British Empire not merely as an economic opportunity but as a mission. Indeed, he not only devoted his life to this mission but also bequeathed his fortune to ensure its continuation after his death. Thus, while celebrated by supporters of British imperialism as a pioneer who opened new trade routes and “brought civilisation to primitive communities,” he was denounced by critics as an opportunist and a despot who pursued his own colonial interests. This study examines Cecil John Rhodes’s role within imperial politics and analyses his contribution to Britain’s expansion in Africa, drawing upon contemporary texts and relevant scholarly works.

Keywords

Cecil John Rhodes , Africa , British Imperialism , Colonialism , 19th century.

İngiliz Emperyal Yayılmasının Afrika’daki Öncü Aktörü: Cecil John Rhodes

Abstract

Coğrafî Keşiflerin ardından hız kazanan sömürgecilik yarışı, 19. yüzyılda doruk noktasına ulaşmış ve bu süreçte İngiltere, diğer Avrupalı sömürgeci devletlere kıyasla belirgin bir üstünlük elde etmiştir. 1815 Viyana Kongresi’nden I. Dünya Savaşına kadar uzanan dönem, literatürde “İngiliz Emperyal Yüzyılı” olarak anılmıştır. Bu üstünlüğü tek bir sebebe indirgemek mümkün olmadığı gibi, yalnızca bir rastlantı veya kaderin eseri olarak görmek de yanıltıcı olacaktır. İngilizlerin küresel ölçekteki kazanımları, iskândan eğitime, bilimden ticarete ve dahi misyonerlik faaliyetlerine kadar birçok alanda yürütülen çok yönlü ve sistemli politikaların sonucudur. Yine direkt veya dolaylı yönetim politikalarını ve bölgelere göre farklılık arz eden idarî yaklaşımlarını da bu bağlamda zikretmek gerekir. Bu süreçte, İngiltere’nin emperyal genişlemesine yön veren birçok etkili aktör ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu isimlerden biri olan Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902), 19. yüzyılın son çeyreğine damgasını vurmuş, Afrika kıtasının özellikle güney kısmının İngilizler tarafından sömürgeleştirilmesinde belirleyici bir rol üstlenmiştir. Öyle ki, bu etkisini Cape’ten Kahire’ye kadar uzanmasını planladığı demiryoluyla kıtanın bir ucundan diğer ucuna kadar uzatmayı hedeflemiştir. İş dünyasına madenci olarak adım atan Rhodes, kısa zamanda özellikle pırlanta sektöründe sayılı birkaç isimden biri haline gelmiş; bu yükselişin ardından siyasete atılmış ve İngiliz İmparatorluğu’nun yayılmasını ekonomik bir kazanç kapısı olarak görmenin ötesinde, bir misyon olarak benimsemiştir. Öyle ki, bu misyona hayatını adamakla kalmamış, ölümünden sonraki gelişimini de düşünerek mirasını bu yola vakfetmiştir. Bu yönüyle İngiliz emperyalizminin destekçileri tarafından, ticaret yollarının açılmasını sağlayan ve “ilkel topluluklara medeniyet götüren” bir öncü olarak yüceltilirken, eleştirenler onu sömürgeci çıkarlarını gözeten bir fırsatçı ve despot olarak tanımlamıştır. Bu çalışmada, Cecil John Rhodes’un emperyal politikalar içindeki rolü ele alınarak, İngiliz yayılmacılığının Afrika’daki ilerleyişine sunduğu katkı, dönem metinleri ve konuyla ilgili araştırma eserleri ve akademik çalışmalar esas alınarak incelenecektir.
Bu çalışmada, Cecil John Rhodes’un emperyal politikalar içindeki rolü ele alınarak, İngiliz yayılmacılığının Afrika’daki ilerleyişine sunduğu katkı incelenecektir.

Keywords

Cecil John Rhodes , Afrika , İngiliz Emperyalizmi , Sömürgecilik , 19.yy.

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