Show colonial jurisdiction hinterland Is defined as the region lying behind a littoral country dependent for trade or commerce upon it As a political term the expression came into prominence during daring when germany insisted upon her right to exercise jurisdiction la in the territory behind the parts parta ot of the african coasts which she occupied the doctrine of the hinterland was that the possessor of the littoral was entitled to as much of the back 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 powers |