Imperialism

From Geography

Imperialism has many contradicting definitions: Lenin describes it as 'the highest form or highest stage of capitalism'; Ronald Hyam (expert on the Britisch empire) describes it as 'an export of a surplus emotional and sexual energy, not capital' (Bush, 2006, p.45) According to Edward Said Imperialism refers to a system of domination over space, encompassing the practise, the theory and the attitudes of a dominating metropolitan centre ruling a distant territory. A manifestation of imperial power is colonialism, which is the implanting of settlements on a distant territory. Colonialism is almost always a consequence of imperialism, depends on conquest, territorial expansion, and processes of colonisation whereby people, goods, and capital move from a metropolitan centre to an colony.

Said describes imperialism as 'a metropolitan area dominating a distant territory (Said, 1994). Western imperialism was at its height in the 19th century and nearly vanished after the end of the Second World War. During this time Europe dominated the world, having most of Earth's territory under control. This quest for domination originated from a the notion that the dominated lands needed domination. In the 19th century and first half of the 20th century the European nations were convinced that foreign lands should be subjugated and, eventually, be transformed into modern, developed societies. It was deemed a moral obligation to colonise foreign lands and raise the local society into a developed society. Another motive for expansion was profit. Many of the dominated territories had large natural resources that were harvested or many people who were enslaved. The actual number of Europeans present in the colonised lands was usually very small compared the number of natives (Said, 1994).

The definitions differ as to wether informal imperialism is included or only formal empires. A formal imperial relationship exists when a 'imperialized' country forfeits its sovereignty and is incorporated into the state or empire of te imperialist power, as was, for instance Britisch India or French Algeria. Informal imperialism exists without colonialism but colonialism cannot exist without imperialism. Third world nationalists and radical Western intellectuals call economic exploitations and political domination informal imperialism. (Bush, 2006, p. 46) Imperial power can be exercised by nations, companies and organizations. (Gregory, 2000, p. 17)

Imperialism still casts a shadow over the present and many are still effected by it.

References

Bush, B. (2006). Imperialism and Postcolonialism, Edinburgh: Pearson Education Limited

Gregory, D. (2000). Decolonising Geography: Postcolonial Perspectives. Chapter 5 in: Blunt, A. & Wills, J. (eds.) Dissident Geographies: an introduction to radical Ideas and Practice. Prentice Hall, London.

Said, E. (1994). Culture and imperialism London: Vintage

Edited by Bert Hegger on October 16th 2012.