Indian Muslim Merchants in Mozambique and South Africa: Intra-regional Networks In Strategic Association with State Institutions, 1870s-1930s

Author: Oishi, Takashi

Source: Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, Volume 50, Numbers 2-3, 2007 , pp. 287-324(38)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

This paper puts focus on Indian Muslim merchants who extended their intra-regional networks over to Mozambique and South Africa from the late-nineteenth century. Through the analysis of market niches secured by these merchants in various consumer products and services in rivalry with larger European capitalists and indigenous players, I emphasize the importance of their strategic association with the colonial state, its institutions and sociopolitical structure as de fined by the state; more specifically, with the trading license, officially induced racial divisions, nationality, customs duties. Their business based on appropriation of as well as complicity with the states was different from that of Indian traders and bankers until the early modern times which had been largely steered along with privileges and acknowledgements in official monopoly regime.

Keywords: INTRA-REGIONAL TRADE; MERCHANT NETWORK; COLONIAL STATE; MARKET NICHE; TRADING LICENSE; GENERAL RETAILING

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156852007781787387

Affiliations: 1: Kobe City University of Foreign Studies, Kobe, Japan

Publication date: 2007-06-01