Imperialism: Causes, Consequences, and Global Impact
Imperialism
A system in which the culture, politics, and economy of the world are organized according to the domain of some countries over others.
What Were the Causes of Imperialism?
Economic
- Search for new economic areas to establish export markets in industrial production, raw materials, and energy, get a low cost, and use cheap and low-skilled labor (construction of infrastructure to promote the distribution).
- Search for new places to invest capital in areas of low competition (minority) or newly industrialized countries like the U.S. (majority). Thus, imperialism was not really profitable.
Political and Demographic Changes
- Desire of the industrial powers to increase their political power and influence at the international level and strong military control.
- Important migration of the European population (population explosion) in colonial territories and Latin America.
Ideological
- Scientific interest – Europeans explored unknown lands throughout the nineteenth century (expeditions to Africa and Asia).
- Racist sentiment – The superiority of the white race with great nationalistic (must expand European civilization throughout the world) disguised paternalistic connotations (the responsibility to civilize and evangelize peoples considered primitive).
The New Organization of Capital and Labor
The Business Concentration
Merger to face competition and innovation to win new markets.
- Horizontal concentration – Firms from the same production chain.
- Vertical concentration – Grouping of companies with complementary activities (elimination of competition (cartel), merging companies (trusts), and participation of a financial institution in various companies (holding).
- Monopoly – Exclusive on the production and distribution of a product and absolute control of prices.
Mass Production
New forms of work organization to achieve greater productivity while maintaining fierce competition.
- Taylorism – Increased productivity, time optimization, and cost reduction through an assembly line.
The Cast of the World (Africa and Asia)
How Did the Penetration of Colonial Empires in China Occur?
China was not occupied by any country, although the Europeans got there in the early nineteenth century, establishing commercial enclaves. The British balanced purchases of Chinese tea and silk from the sale of opium brought from India. In 1839, the Chinese government banned the entry of opium, but the English continued to sell it. The conflict led to the Opium Wars through which the British government got the enclave of Hong Kong and the opening of twelve ports to international trade, which showed the weakness of the Chinese empire to the West. So, there was a veritable assault on China by European countries and Japan. France was in the southwest, Britain in the south and the Yangtze River, Russia and Japan in the northeast, around Manchuria, and Germany and Britain in the Shandong Peninsula.
The New Imperialist Powers
U.S. Imperialism: (Monroe Doctrine)
Monroe Doctrine – Statement that incorporates the principles of U.S. foreign policy with respect to the rights and activities of European powers in the Americas, presented by President James Monroe. It comprises two key elements: no European intervention in America and no American intervention in Europe. It is summarized in the phrase “America for Americans.”
Impact of Imperialism
What Consequences Did the First Settlers Have on the Colonized Peoples?
Politics
Colonization introduced elements of European civilization: the foundations of a modern administration and a model of political organization. But they drew the borders of empires regardless of tribal differences, linguistic or religious beliefs of indigenous peoples, leading to conflicts after decolonization.
Economics
An economy based on plantation agriculture and the exploitation of mines was imposed. Indigenous farmers were dispossessed of their land by private companies, and artisans were unable to withstand competition from European products.
Social
Colonization caused the breakdown of traditional society. A European bourgeoisie was installed at the highest levels of the social ladder, and indigenous peoples, considered inferior, were excluded (they were forced to live in separate quarters, they were barred from entering certain places, etc.). On a positive note, mortality decreased with the introduction of European health practices.
Cultural
The imposition of Western civilization in the colonies caused a deep crisis of indigenous cultures. Furthermore, indigenous elites studied in European universities and became westernized. Interestingly, from this Westernized elite emerged leaders of the decolonization movement.
What Consequences Did the First Settlers Have on the Metropolis?
By contrast, the European powers, with no other sacrifice than risking the unknown, had undoubted advantages.
Demographic
Settler colonies formed the geographic areas for solving the labor surplus in an economic crisis, as happened in the difficult years for the British economy.
Politics
Many French fled to Algeria after the repression of 1848. And many Alsatians preferred to live in Africa rather than under German control after the 1870 war. However, we should clarify that the core of European emigration was not addressed to the new colonies but to independent nations, former colonies like the U.S., Canada, and Argentina.
Economic
Overseas investment opportunities increased capital, and profits multiplied. Britain gained revenue of 35 billion pounds in 1870 and over one hundred million in 1900, in a spiral of profitability which reached two hundred million in 1913. One key aspect was to obtain raw materials at a low cost. Rubber, cotton, phosphates, and wool supplied the European industry. The colonies posed a choice for the metropolitan area.