Andrew Denning. Automotive Empire: How Cars and Roads Fueled European Colonialism in Africa

Andrew Denning’s Automotive Empire is a rich and significant contribution to the comparative history of how colonial regimes conceived and implemented their policies on road construction in Africa. The concept of “automotive empire,” which underpins the book, is centered on how technology, infrastructure, and mobility shaped colonial policies and how these interventions transformed Africa in turn. Denning aims to develop a theoretical framework connecting European technopolitics development with imperial projects—French, Italian, British, and German. At the heart of his analysis lies the fixation of colonial regimes on road building and automotive culture. The author explores how colonial administrators envisioned their automotive empires, their inherent fragility and limitations, and their challenges in confronting Africa’s landscapes, particularly regarding resources, territorial extension, and labor. Although the issue of African forced labor is addressed only tangentially, Denning compellingly examines the intersection between colonial ambitions and the practical realities of roadbuilding, offering valuable insights into the technopolitical dimensions of European imperialism.