What is imperialism
Imperialism is a form of domination policy that a State exercises over other peoples or nations. The imperialist states, converted into economic and military powers, extended their domains through the establishment of colonies, or through cultural and institutional influences.
Governments with an imperial organization have existed through the centuries. The term empire, from which “imperialism” is derived, was already used in ancient Rome to refer to the power to command and exercise authority. However, its use did not have a negative connotation.
It was from the second half of the 19th century that the concept “imperialism” took on the meaning it has today. In that period, European powers strove to expand their domains in territories in Africa, Asia and regions of other continents.
Countries like England, France and Germany They tried to obtain territories from which to extract raw materials and to sell manufactured products made in Europe. These countries justified themselves under the premise that they were contributing to the progress of less civilized peoples.
It is considered that between the 1870s and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, there was a frankly imperialist doctrine, where European states subjugated, administered and governed territories beyond their borders. Out of Europe, Japan It joined this trend after its industrialization process, and colonized some eastern regions.
At its core, imperialism implies that a government conceives its people as superior to others. Therefore, he deserves to extend his authority, since his actions would end up being positive for both the imperialists and the dominated people. Such an attitude is now seen as unacceptable.
Characteristics of imperialism
Occupation and possession of foreign lands: Countries that have become powers conquer other peoples, annexing such territories to their domains or exercising command over them.
administrative political control: the imperialist State administers the occupied place or, in other circumstances, creates the conditions for the establishment of a puppet government, subordinate to the decisions of the powerful country.
Exploitation of natural resources and market monopoly: Powers seek to obtain raw materials and energy resources at low cost. Furthermore, by administering the territory, they control the market and the introduction of manufactured goods, imposing their conditions on trade.
Cultural and institutional influence: Through different methods, imperial powers shape the lifestyle and ways of thinking of the people under their rule. It is common for their values, language, religion, etc. to be imposed, which causes acculturation processes.
Causes of imperialist expansion
The emergence of imperialism is a historical phenomenon that is due to various factors. Between 1870 and 1915, the causes that drove industrial powers such as England, Germany, France, the United States and Japan to carry out imperialist actions were:
Economic causes:
The search for territories with natural resources that could be exploited to strengthen the economy of the metropolis (power center). The need to control new regions to establish markets for the products of the imperialist country’s factories. Thus, an escape valve was also generated to invest the fresh capital originated by the industrial revolution. The ambition to take advantage of the cheap labor provided by the colonies, which made businesses more profitable.
Political and ideological causes:
The rise of nationalism in industrial countries. Countries were eager to exalt their own traditions and wanted to project their supposed superiority over other nations. The consolidation of ethnocentrism. That is, an attitude of social superiority, which judges one’s own values as superior. In Europe and North America, domination over other peoples was justified through ethnocentrist pseudoscientific theories. Competition between powers. This caused strong rivalries, especially within Europe, as each country sought to establish itself as a hegemonic power and gain prestige. Territorial expansion provided strategic advantages.
Demographic and scientific causes
The increase in population in industrialized countries. The European population almost doubled between 1850 and the first decade of the 20th century due to medical and scientific advances that improved the birth rate and prolonged life expectancy. Demographic pressure caused many to seek to settle or work in the colonies and dominated territories. by their countries of origin. It is estimated that around 50 million Europeans migrated to other continents in the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.
Types of imperialism and examples
In ancient times, imperial governments expanded through military conquests to annex territories, expand their domains, and make subject peoples pay them tribute.
This was the typical model of imperial expansion in Mesopotamia, Rome, etc. In modernity, imperialism developed through different types of political-administrative structures. Some types of imperialism were:
political imperialism
It is the classic model of imperial rule. A State exercises dominion and governs directly, or through local officials in charge, a territory that was previously foreign. Example This was the English occupation of India.
The English first arrived there through the East India Company (English East India Company). Then, in 1858, the United Kingdom decided to make the company’s territories possessions of the British crown.
The English monarchy imposed a viceroy in Calcutta, created a ministry of state for India and appointed some provincial governors; although he respected some local administrations. In this way, England governed the current nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma in a unified manner until the mid-20th century.
economic imperialism
One country exercises its power and economic influence over another to ensure commercial advantages, a monopoly on investments and the extraction of natural resources. Example This may be the role played by the American company United Fruit Co. at the beginning of the 20th century in Central America.
In this case, the United States did not exercise direct government functions over other countries. But the influence of the banana company was decisive in the economic, political and social development of the Central American nations.
The inhabitants of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, etc. they knew the United Fruit Co. like the octopus, since its tentacles interfered in all aspects of his life. Such economic dependence made the Central American countries “production colonies”, to which the term “Banana Republics“.
Neoimperialism
In certain circumstances the term “neo-imperialism” is used to indicate the influence that nations with an imperialist past continue to have. Such influence can affect the finances, politics and culture of less strong countries.
Neoimperialism can be cultural, such as that exercised by the media, technology and languages of Western countries, which have become globalized.
In other cases, China, as the new economic power of the 21st century, is accused of intervening with its “soft power” and financial aid in the affairs of African nations. Which would also imply a form of neo-imperialism.
Regressive and progressive imperialisms
According to the academic, LS Feuer, two types of imperialism can be identified according to their objectives, these are:
Regressive imperialismwhere what the imperial State seeks is the exploitation, oppression and servitude of an indigenous population. Example This may be Belgium’s actions in the Congo.
Progressive imperialism, when the imperialist power seeks the expansion of civilization and the elevation of the culture and living standards of the conquered, supposedly inferior, peoples. As exampleimperial Spain, which sought to Christianize the conquered American peoples.
Consequences of imperialism
Economic consequences
The construction of infrastructure in the colonies and protectorates. On the one hand, it gave impetus to economic dynamics of modernization. But the truth is that the imperial powers initially used such infrastructure to effectively exploit the resources of the colonies. Disappearance of traditional modes of production. The ways of producing to export goods to imperialist countries produced “extraction economies.” Agrarian monocultures replaced the diverse productive structures of other times.
Political and military consequences
The division of Africa and the Berlin Conference (1884-85). The conference established rules for the occupation of African territories and avoiding direct conflicts between European powers. With the division, Africa became an occupied continent and politically divided by artificial borders. Conflicts that led to the Great War (1914-1918). The competition between the powers for their prestige, the progress of their industry and the search for international markets generated international tension. This engendered conflicts such as the Agadir crisis (1911) and the Balkan crisis (1914), which led to the First World War. People in the colonies promoted anti-imperialist movements. In the colonized territories, currents of resistance against the occupation emerged. These movements sometimes had nationalist overtones and in other cases were supported by Marxist organizations.
See also: