Imperialism: Causes and Consequences in the Second Industrial Revolution
Introduction
The Second Industrial Revolution, with its characteristic acceleration of historical processes, created a significant gap between the powers that embraced industrialization and those that did not. This ultimately divided the world. These industrial powers demonstrated their supremacy and dominated the less developed nations, achieving a hegemony that persists today. Hence, the importance of this issue. This document will explain the causes that led to the “monopoly stage of capitalism” (Lenin) in these industrial powers, according to the following categories: demographic, economic, political, scientific, and ideological.
Demographic Causes
Demographic factors played a crucial role. Birth rates and life expectancy increased while mortality declined. This was due to technical and hygienic improvements brought about by the Second Industrial Revolution and the establishment of certain workers’ rights influenced by the labor movement. This “surplus” population created a need for more land for nations to continue creating jobs and curbing unemployment.
Economic Causes
Economic factors were paramount. These included:
- The search for new territories in which to invest the excess capital accumulated, primarily in financing infrastructure such as railways, ports, and major engineering works (Suez Canal, Panama Canal, etc.). This was necessary to continue growing and avoid economic stagnation, with the ultimate objective of becoming the leading world powers.
- The exploration and conquest of areas to obtain raw materials and cheap, abundant energy. Colonies were assigned the role of supplying metropolitan industries. This further impoverished the colonies because the capital invested in them was withdrawn once it had been exploited.
- Control of spaces that ensured the establishment of markets where monopoly placement of industrial products could occur. Control of strategic areas, such as Madagascar and Gibraltar, was also sought to impose customs and conduct international trade. This caused conflicts between various nations, such as the Fashoda incident between France and England, which fostered French resentment due to their humiliation by England.
- The use of skilled but cheap and docile (sometimes enslaved) labor, which reduced the costs of extracting raw materials and contributed to the success of plantation agriculture. This created an ideal situation for the capitalist entrepreneur.
Political Causes
Political factors included:
- Nationalism, a degenerate form of liberalism, fostered a prestige with a chauvinistic attitude, often led by strong personalities like Bismarck.
- The ambition to achieve colonial hegemony by any means, which directly resulted in conflicts and tensions. The Berlin Conference was an attempt to organize the “sharing of the cake.” It increased German prestige and resolved conflicts, such as the one occurring in the Congo.
Scientific Causes
Science played a role through the promotion of scientific expeditions driven by curiosity, adventure, and ambition. The application of Darwinian theory to the social field was used to justify the domination of the fittest (whites) over the less fit. Furthermore, superior military technology played a significant role. It should be noted that these advancements were made possible by capitalism and the industrial revolutions.
Ideological Causes
Ideological factors were significant. Racist theories, rooted in nationalism and chauvinism, were developed and promoted to justify territorial expansion, with or without the consent of indigenous peoples. In its milder forms, this racism was disguised as paternalism, with claims that white men needed to “rescue indigenous peoples from backwardness” through education and instruction. The missionary activity of Anglican, Catholic, and Protestant Christian churches significantly impacted indigenous people, whose cultures were entirely foreign to the West. However, all these positions were based on the same ethnocentric ideology that extolled European and Western culture while denigrating others as barbaric, savage, and primitive.
Conclusion
Imperialism, as a degenerate final stage of capitalism, significantly impacted world history by granting hegemony to Europe, especially England, followed by France and Germany. While some nations prospered, others were ruined. Colonies, once they had fulfilled their role as suppliers, were cruelly abandoned in an impoverished state. Imperialism ultimately led to World War I due to its controversial nature. Nationalism clashed with nationalism, inevitably leading to the formation of alliances that would engage in armed conflict.