EN - FR - Yükselen Afrika ve Türkiye / Rising Africa and Turkey 3

246 Yükselen Afrika ve Türkiye / Rising Africa and Turkeymeant to prop up the smooth functioning of markets and capital, rather thaninterest in development of poor countries (ibid: 21). The great depression ofthe 1930s had resulted into the contraction of international capital. At the sametime, this resulted into Latin American countries adopting protectionist policiesand defaulting of loan payment. It was in this context that aid for developmententered political discourse. Lord Milner, the British ColonialSecretary from 1919 to 1921 is reported to have written to the Observer:What these countries (i.e. the colonies) need…is economic development—roads,railways, engines, tractors, and in some cases, notably Sudan,irrigation works. It would increase employment and purchasing power athome as well as in countries where the work of development is proceeding…Their development is a question of money—and money from outside. (quotedin ibid: 11)These policies were a continuation of those that had been set up by theso-called humanitarian, philanthropic, civilizational and developmental organizations,which aimed at dampening the resistance of Africans since the commencementof colonialism. These were such as the missionary societies andother philanthropic and humanitarian organizations including the abolitionistsand the royal geographical societies since the 19 th Century. These were essentiallyorganizations of the avante guard of the elites—mostly imperial ones,some of whom were to form concessionary companies for trade and eventuallyfor colonization. European colonization and the process of proselytizationled by the church went hand in hand. The basis of these organizations was theirbelief that they were involved in philanthropy and charity; and their involvementin the process of colonization was on the same basis. In this way, theywere involved in the provision of education, health and spiritual upkeep, whilethe colonial state organized production and plunder of the human and naturalresources of the colonies.These organizations were essentially welfare agencies established by theenterprising European and American missionaries enjoying the patronage ofthe colonial powers. By early 20 th century, besides the voluntary work, thechurch was facing a formidable enemy in the form of the rise of communism,as manifested in the revolution of the Soviet Republics of 1917. From mereideological battles between communist ideas and religion, the fact that communistshad captured state power meant a new realignment internationallyamong the religious associations and also a transformation of their relationswith the imperial states. The European and American states were aware of thevital role that the church organizations were playing as a political force in their