Show colonial jurisdiction hinterland Is defined as the region lying behind a littoral country dependent for trado trade or commerce upon it As a political term the expression came into prominence during when germany insisted upon her right to exercise jurisdiction in the territory behind the parts of the african coasts which she occupied the doctrine of the hinterland was that the possessor of the littoral w was as entitled to as much of the back country as was dependent upon the coast land geographically economically or politically the doctrine spee speedily dlly led to the partition of africa among the various vailous european powers |