THE GREAT ISLAND OF MINI-OCEANIA: MADAGASCAR AT THE CROSSROADS OF EMPIRES

Abstract

Madagascar, though rich in natural resources, is one of the poorest countries of the world. The mostly accepted explanation relies in its colonial past, which has become almost a cliché for many African countries. The great powers and empires played a major role in the formation and the evolution of the states, and Madagascar is no exception. The inheritance of the past, good or bad, is a burden for any country, but the evolution of national states, their successes and failures, depend on many more factors than their recent history. The present situation of many developing countries is not enviable, especially taking into consideration their enhanced vulnerability to world economic problems and environmental challenges.

Keywords

• Austronesian, piracy, missionary, colonialism, imperialism, insularity, slavery, independence, republic, president, faction, crisis.