Colonialism: Economic, Demographic, Political, and Ideological Causes
The Causes of Colonialism
Colonialism was driven by a combination of economic, political, and social factors:
- Economic Factors: European countries needed to sell surplus production, acquire raw materials cheaply, and invest capital where labor was inexpensive.
- Demographic Factors: Overpopulation in the 19th century led to unemployment and social unrest, prompting emigration to colonies.
- Political Factors: With European borders stabilized, territorial expansion shifted to regions outside Europe.
- Ideological Factors: Conservative nationalism promoted the idea of superior nations with the right to dominate others, leading to racism and the belief in a European duty to ‘civilize’ other peoples.
A few intellectuals opposed colonialism, defending the rights of colonized peoples to self-determination.
French and Other Colonial Empires
The French colonial empire, with holdings in North Africa and Southeast Asia (Indochina), competed with the British Empire, especially in Africa. Other colonial powers included Russia, Holland, Portugal, and to a lesser extent, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Spain.
Types of Colonies
Colonies of Exploitation
These colonies were primarily for economic exploitation. They were governed by a military governor and officers, often using indigenous soldiers for repression. Operations focused on large plantations or direct extraction of precious metals. The colonizing power often established monopolies, limiting trade with other countries, and provided minimal wages to the indigenous population.
Settler Colonies
These colonies saw permanent migration of white populations. While dependent on the metropolis, they had some autonomy in internal government and were often called ‘domains’. Examples include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. France even considered Algeria as an overseas province.
Protectorates
These territories maintained a local government alongside a parallel administration controlled by the metropolis. The metropolis controlled foreign policy and advocacy. Morocco, divided between France and Spain, is a prime example. Britain established a protectorate in Egypt, where it participated in building the Suez Canal, a strategic passage between the Mediterranean and Red Seas.