imperialism
Here are the concept pages for Imperialism and Imperialists.
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Imperialism
Definition: Imperialism is a political and economic system wherein a state extends its power and influence over foreign territories, often through military force, economic coercion, or diplomatic pressure, with the intent of controlling resources, trade, and regional dominance.
Context: ** It can manifest in Colonial Imperialism where a nation directly rules and administers foreign lands. ** It can involve Economic Imperialism where control is exercised primarily through economic dependency or exploitation rather than territorial annexation. ** It can range from being a formal system of government, with direct governance over territories, to being an informal influence exerted through economic or cultural control. ** It can foster global inequality by creating disparities between dominant powers and subordinated nations. ** It can be justified by imperial ideologies that claim cultural or racial superiority, promoting a narrative that the imperialist power is bringing "civilization" or "progress" to less developed areas. ** ...
Example(s): ** the British Empire, which established vast colonies worldwide and integrated them into a global economy centered on British trade interests. ** the Scramble for Africa in the late 19th century, where European powers divided African territories for resource extraction and geopolitical dominance. ** U.S. influence in Latin America through mechanisms like the Monroe Doctrine, asserting dominance over Western Hemisphere nations. ** ...
Counter-Example(s): ** Isolationism, where a state seeks to avoid international entanglements and focuses on domestic issues. ** Anti-imperialism, a movement opposing imperial control and promoting national sovereignty. ** ...
See: Colonialism, Economic Imperialism, Neocolonialism, Anti-Imperialism
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Imperialists
Definition: An imperialist is an individual, group, or institution that supports or actively engages in imperialism, often aiming to expand a nation’s power by establishing political, economic, or cultural influence over other territories.
Context: ** They can include political leaders advocating for imperial expansion to secure economic or strategic advantages. ** They can encompass business interests that push for foreign markets or resources to benefit their nation’s economy. ** They can act within colonial administrations to enforce imperial rule and integrate territories into the dominant state's structure. ** They can range from being overt advocates of imperial policies to indirect supporters who benefit from the effects of imperialism without actively promoting it. ** They can promote nationalistic ideologies that frame expansion as beneficial or morally justified for the imperial power. ** ...
Example(s): ** Cecil Rhodes, a British imperialist whose vision of a British-dominated Africa motivated colonial expansion and exploitation in Southern Africa. ** The East India Company, which operated as a business entity but functioned as an imperial force in India, establishing British dominance. ** Theodore Roosevelt, who promoted U.S. intervention in Latin America as part of the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting U.S. influence. ** ...
Counter-Example(s): ** Anti-Imperialists, such as members of the Anti-Imperialist League in the United States, who opposed American imperial actions in the Philippines. ** Nationalist Leaders in colonized countries, like Mahatma Gandhi, who resisted imperial domination and promoted independence. ** ...
See: Colonial Administrator, Expansionism, Imperial Ideologies, Anti-Imperialist Movements