Imperialism Essays (1998 words) - Culture, Postmodern Theory

Imperialism VHistory 101B 10/25/00 Section 8 Western Imperialism We live in a world in which the consequences of nineteenth and twentieth century Western imperialism are still being felt. By the early nineteen hundreds Western civilization reached the high point of it's long standing global expansion. The expansion took many forms such as economic, political, and cultural imperialism. Europeans invested a lot of money abroad to build railroads, ports, mines, plantations as well as factories and public utilities. Trade began to grow between nations and the economy became more developed. Western civilizations became much more prosperous than the rest of the world due to the land usage and industrialization of Western colonization. The European economic invasion began as peaceful trade, but Westerners became quite willing to force isolated nations of Africa and Asia to open their doors for them. Aside from the economical influences on certain countries, another aspect of the Western expansion was that European states established huge political empire s in Africa and Asia. This event, categorized as the ?new imperialism?, occurred when European governments began searching for new territory. Small groups of Europeans began to rule millions of Africans and Asians. The causes of the new imperialism are still hotly debated, but competition for trade, superior military force, advanced technologies, and politics are among the most important. Western imperialism itself is also one of the greatest controversies of world history. Westerners justified their imperialistic reign by explaining their economic, political, and cultural motives for imperialism. Although imperialism seemed destructive to tribal societies, I feel that the justifications hold true and the impact of imperialism has strengthened society. One of the justifications that the Westerners gave for imperialism was that it was in the best interest for the world's economy. John Hobson describes the imperialists arguments as ?we must have markets for our growing manufacturers, we must have new outlets for the investment of our surplus capital and for the energies of adventurous surplus of our population: such expansion is a necessity of life to a nation with our great and growing powers of production? (Hobson, John. Imperialism. London: Allen and Unwin, 1948. p. 35). A point was made that overseas colonies could serve as sources of raw materials that were not available in Europe and were necessary in industrialization. Europeans explained that Africa and Asia were far behind in the main abilities of manufacture and trade, and imperialism would help them adapt to these new technologies. Westerners claimed that imperialism was important for political and military reasons to maintain strategic locations in other areas. Westerners explained that it would benefit Africa and Asia to conform to western politics in order to be in touch with the rest of the world as well as gaining protection from the greater powers. Another justification of imperialism that the Westerners gave was the cultural aspect. Advocates of imperialism sent missionaries to African and Asian lands to convert the people to Christianity. Europeans accounted that by bringing their traditions and Christianity to Africa and Asia it would help bring those people out of their savage state. The benefits that imperialism would bring to the economy, politics, and culture aroused much support in Europe, however the so-called ?savage people? did not return this support. In the book, Traditions and Encounters, it explains that ?the policies adopted by imperial powers and colonial officials forced peoples of different societies to deal with one another on a regular and systematic basis. Their interactions often led to violent conflicts between colonizers and subject peoples.? (Bentley, p. 869). Many of the effects of imperialism exploited the African and Asian people and culture. They were made to assimilate to European ways and were forced to forget their own culture. In the text, The Global Experience, a Micmac responds to a catholic missionary on the idea of conversion, ?I am greatly astonished that the French have so little cleverness, as they seem to exhibit the matter of which thou hast just told me on their behalf, in the effort, to persuade us to convert our poles, our barks, and our wigwams into those houses of stone and of wood which are tall and lofty.?(Schwartz. P.110). This passage portrays how most people under imperialistic rule felt ab out being forced into a