Reparations for Africa: Infrastructure, Education, and Industry for Africa are Long Overdue Based on the Legal Concept of Unjust Enrichment

International Zeitscrift, Vol. 4, No. 3

4 Pages Posted: 12 Feb 2011 Last revised: 12 Dec 2014

See all articles by C.G. Bateman

C.G. Bateman

University of British Columbia (UBC), Faculty of Law

Date Written: February 13, 2011

Abstract

This article suggests that a legal argument could be made out that Africa, in the hands of the Western sovereign nations over a period of three hundred years dating back to the 17th century, has been the victim of multivarite expropriations of resources and wealth in a case of "unjust enrichment." The courts of English speaking countries usually ask: 1. Was there enrichment? 2. Was it at the expense of the victim? 3. Was in unfair? 4. Is there a good reason for it which might excuse it? 5. What remedy should be enforced? Once you have answered these questions and have determined a remedy is in order, one of the concepts brought to bear on the analysis is that if there is money owing, then compound interest is most usually applied, for obvious reasons. Here I suggest that because the sums owning are incalcuably high, a program of repayment in reparations by the relevant sovereign states in the form of infrastructure, education, and industry would be the only just way forward.

Keywords: Africa, Reparations, Unjust Enrichment, International Relations, Imperialism

Suggested Citation

Bateman, C.G., Reparations for Africa: Infrastructure, Education, and Industry for Africa are Long Overdue Based on the Legal Concept of Unjust Enrichment (February 13, 2011). International Zeitscrift, Vol. 4, No. 3, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1758961

C.G. Bateman (Contact Author)

University of British Columbia (UBC), Faculty of Law ( email )

Vancouver
Canada

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