Shadows of Empire: Elite Capture and the Colonial Mindset

In the aftermath of colonialism, many newly independent nations faced a paradox: they possessed the trappings of sovereignty—flags, anthems, and borders—but their internal trajectories remained hijacked. This phenomenon, known as elite capture, occurs when a privileged minority monopolizes political and economic resources to the exclusion of the broader populace. However, this capture is not merely an act of greed; it is facilitated by the deep-seated persistence of colonial mindsets. By emulating their Western predecessors in government, military, and bureaucracy, post-colonial elites have created a system that – genuinely and with the best of intentions – prioritizes imitation over innovation, ensuring their dominance while stalling genuine national progress.

The Institutional Inheritance

The roots of this crisis lie in the transition of power. Colonial rule was not just a system of extraction but a psychological hierarchy where local elites were groomed to administer the state on behalf of the occupying power. Upon independence, rather than dismantling these exclusionary structures, the new native leadership inhabited them wholesale as there was nothing solid to fall back upon.

This is most visible in the "steel frame" of the state: the bureaucracy and the military. Bureaucracies, often laden with colonial-era red tape and elitist jargon, continue to serve as gatekeepers rather than public servants. Similarly, militaries modeled after imperial forces retain the messes, golf courses, uniforms, and strategic outlooks of their former overlords. In doing so, they view their own populations not as citizens to be protected, but as unruly masses to be managed or "civilized." This creates a profound disconnect: the state speaks the language of the West—literally and metaphorically—while the people speak the vernacular.

The situation actually becomes comedic when the "strongman" cannot even speak the colonial language fluently and operates at the intellectual level of a modern high-school student in the erstwhile colonizer's current system.

The Economics of Imitation

This cultural mimicry has tangible economic consequences. Elite capture is reinforced by the fact that global economic power remains concentrated outside the country – whether in the West or now in the East. To access international aid, foreign investment, and state contracts, the local elite must "speak the language" of the global order.

Because they share the cultural markers of Western decision-makers, these semi-Westernized elites become the preferred partners for multinational corporations and foreign donors. Consequently, economic policies often mimic neo-liberal models—such as aggressive privatization—that benefit the upper crust while exacerbating inequality. Whether in Nigeria, Pakistan, or elsewhere, leaders often align with Western alliances to secure political backing or arms deals, justifying these choices under the guise of "modernization" while functionally deepening dependency.

The Void of Genuine Statesmanship

Perhaps the most damaging aspect of this dynamic is the suppression of intellectual sovereignty. Because the elite derives its legitimacy from its proximity to Western standards, indigenous philosophy and local knowledge systems are frequently devalued as "backward" or "tribal."

This environment stifles the development of genuine thinkers, philosophers, and statesmen who could construct a political identity rooted in the nation's own history. As the theorist Frantz Fanon famously warned, the national bourgeoisie becomes trapped in a psychology of "Black Skin, White Masks," acting as managers for Western enterprise rather than captains of their own destiny. Potential visionaries who advocate for cultural revival or indigenous governance models are marginalized as radicals. The result is a political landscape populated not by statesmen, but by technocrats who are essentially mimics, repeating imported slogans that lack resonance with the lived reality of their people.

A Self-Perpetuating Cycle

The tragedy of elite capture is that it is self-perpetuating. The educational systems and social ladders in post-colonial states are often rigged to reward those who successfully emulate Western norms. To rise in the judiciary, the corporate world, or the civil service, one must often shed their native identity and adopt the affectations of the former colonizer.

This filters out dissenters and ensures that the upper echelons of power remain populated by those with a vested interest in the status quo. Until post-colonial nations can decolonize their institutions and foster leaders who derive legitimacy from their own people rather than distant empires, they risk remaining in a state of arrested development—forever chasing a reflection of the West, while their own nations remain in the shadows.