Show colonial jurisdiction hinterland Is defined as the region lying behind a littoral country de pendent for trade or commerce upon it As a political term the expression cacace into prominence during 1883 85 when germany insisted upon her right to exercise jurisdiction in the territory behind the parts of the af alcin coasts which she occupied the doctrine of the hinterland hint eiland was that the possessor ot the littoral was en titled to as much of the baal country as was dependent upon the coast land geographically economically or politically the doctrine speedily led to the partition of africa among the various european Lur powers |