塞西爾·羅得斯是19世紀中后期英國在南部非洲進行殖民擴張的主要策劃者和行動者之一，他狂熱堅持由開普向北方擴張的北向戰略。羅得斯在19世紀末英國攫取貝專納蘭、打通大北通路和獲得英政府委任狀，組建英國南非公司并最終占領馬紹納蘭、馬塔貝萊蘭建立羅得西亞殖民地，以及陰謀推翻克魯格統治的“詹姆遜襲擊”等一系列重大地區事件中都發揮了舉足輕重的作用。無論在南部非洲近現代歷史上，還是在非洲殖民主義史上，羅得斯都是具有重要影響的歷史人物之一。因此，對他的殖民事業和殖民思想進行研究應該是具有重要意義的。本書立足演講稿、書信、檔案、傳記等原始資料，以其他學者的研究成果為基礎，悉心解讀相關材料，對羅得斯的殖民歷程、殖民思想和對南部非洲的影響、作用等問題進行了細致的梳理和研究。

全書的主體內容共分為五章。

第一章論述了羅得斯的家庭背景、童年和少年時期在英國的生活狀況以及后來因病去南非療養、早年發展后又輾轉回國進入牛津大學深造的曲折過程，對其青年時代思想脈絡的發展、變化和殖民主義思想的初步形成進行了探討。

第二章論述了青年羅得斯在非洲早期的經濟投機行為，對1877年后羅得斯的主要經濟活動做了研究和梳理。主要結論：羅得斯所進行的這些經濟活動是其在非洲殖民事業的重要組成部分，是為實現其政治抱負而奠定的經濟基礎，對其后來政治活動的開展具有很大的推動與幫助作用。

第三章論述了19世紀中后期羅得斯與英國在南部非洲的殖民擴張歷程，對于羅得斯參與的一系列影響南部非洲政治格局的重大事件進行了詳細分析。從中可見羅得斯在英國19世紀中后期的南部非洲殖民進程中發揮了相當大的主導作用。

第四章主要以羅得斯的演講稿、遺囑等原始材料為依據，結合其政治實踐，討論剖析了羅得斯的殖民主義思想。羅得斯的殖民主義思想的主要特點是帶有濃厚的種族主義特征，具體可以分為兩個層次，即強調白人優越的狂熱的種族論思想和歧視非洲原住民的種族隔離思想。本書指出堅定的殖民思想是羅得斯在非洲畢生從事殖民活動的精神原動力。

第五章在上述幾章基礎上，以馬克思的“雙重使命”論為分析工具從建設性和破壞性兩個方面探討了羅得斯在19世紀中后期南部非洲殖民進程中的作用、地位及深遠的歷史影響。

Abstract

Cecil Rhodes was one of the main planners and actors who carried out colonial expansion in Southern Africa for the interests of England in late 19th century.He persisted in keeping open a road to the north from the Cape and building a railway from the Cape to Cairo.Rhodes played a pivatal role in a series of important events of region,such as occupying Bechuanaland,opening up access to north,obtaining the Charter,establishing British South Africa Company,forming Rhodesia by invading Mashonaland and Matabeleland and taking part in "Jameson Raid" against Kruger.No matter in modern history of Southern Africa or in African colonial history did Rhodes be an important influential figure.Therefore,it remains a meaningful matter to research on his colonial enterprise and thinking.Based on the principle that all the materials,such as speeches,letters,archival documents,biographies and all kinds of books and articles would be judged and used,this book examines many topics.For example,Rhodes' colonial history,Rhodes' colonial ideology and his influence on Southern Africa.

Besides the preface and the epilogue,there are five chapters in this book.

Chapter One plays a role in the background.The chapter,including two parts,elaborates several topics as followed:Rhodes' family circumstances,his childhood and adolescence in England,the reason why he went to South Africa,and late access to Oxford University.In addition,the chapter investigates the development of the train of Rhodes' thoughts and the initial formation of his colonial thinking.

Chapter Two mainly discusses Rhodes' economic colonization behaviors after 1877 and details important accounts of his founding de Beers Mining Company,amalgamating all the diamond mines of Kimberley to found the de Beers Consolidated Mines Company and establish Goldfields Company.The conclusion is that these economic activities are an important component of Rhodes' African colonial enterprise,which lay the economic foundation to achieve his political aspirations and promote his future political activities.

Chapter Three mainly elaborates the history of colonial expansion of Rhodes and England in Southern Africa in late 19th century goes into details a series of events which influence the political situation in Southern Africa.It analyses Rhodes' instigation of the British Government strongly to win Bechuanaland and open up the Great Northern Road.It also probes into the capture of a broad river district and the formation of Rhodesia after Rhodes.It looks into the "Jameson Raid" which seriously intensified the contradiction between the British and Boer and foreshadowed the outbreak of Anglo-Boer War when Rhodes' political ideal of establishing the Union of South Union encounter with Kruger.It can be seen that Rhodes exerted a considerable dominant in colonization process in Southern Africa in late 19th century.

Chapter Four discusses the colonial ideology of Rhodes,based mainly on his speeches and other raw materials that combined with his political practice.The characteristic of strong racism is the main feature of Rhodes' colonial ideology,which can be divided into two parts.One is emphasis on the thinking of white racial superiority,the other is the idea of discrimination against African natives.The first part underwent a process of development and change.There are three different components in it,including supremacy of Anglo-Saxon nation,union of Anglo-Boer and the union of the English-speaking peoples throughout the world,which is to win over the United States.The second part can be subdivided into two levels,such as the thought of discrimination against blacks and apartheid.Overall,the two parts of Rhodes' colonial ideology are complementary.The author emphasized that the colonial ideology is a deep thrust for colonization.

On the basis of above four chapters,chapter Five holds the dual mission of Marxist theory as the theoretical tools and discusses the role of Rhodes in colonization process in Southern Africa in late 19th century.Adhere to evidence-based analysis of specific issues and attitudes,this chapter makes an objective assessment on Rhodes.There are three topics as followed:(1)the relationship between Rhodes and the formation of the new political situation in Southern Africa,(2)the relationship between Rhodes and the modern development in the region,(3)exploitation and plunder on natives in Southern Africa.

Through out research and analysis of Rhodes,the epilogue emphasizes and points out that the intention of the book is to clerify and resolve three problems,such as the relationship between the individual and the timesand the social forms,the relationship between economic colonial problems and political colonial problem and the understanding of the dual mission.Through the above efforts,the book would make a contribution to the history of colonialism in our country.

Key words:Cecil Rhodes;Colonialism;Southern Africa;Influence;Role