Understanding Modern Imperialism

According to Colonialism: A Theoretical Overview, by J. Osterhammel, colonialism is a system of domination, while a colony is a particular type of sociopolitical organization (Osterhammel, 5). These are basically means the expansion of a society beyond its original habitat. And there are six major forms of this expansion. There is total migration of entire populations and societies, mass individual migration, border colonization, overseas settlement colonization, empire-building wars of conquest, and construction of naval networks. “Imperialism is the concept that comprises all forces and activities contributing to the construction and the maintenance of transcolonial empires” (Osterhammel, 21). As said in the text, imperialism is not only colonial politics but also international politics for colonies to be able to be in the global power games.

Then you have empires, which in this context mean in possession of multiple colonies: colonial empires. We have had many empires come and go but the biggest ones known were British Empire, United States and Japan. Though amongst the three there is a difference. British Empire and Japan were more known to be colonial rule (formal empire), where as United States are known to be quasi-colonial control (informal empire). Formal empire was where “indigenous rulers are replaced by foreign rulers (Osterhammel, 21). While informal empire was where “the weaker state remains intact as an independent polity with its own political system. It can conduct its own foreign policy and regulate routine domestic affairs. There is no colonial administration, but occasionally, especially in the area of finance, a mixture of foreign and indigenous administration” (Osterhammel, 21).

And the kind of ideologies that were found to justify modern imperialism in the minds of European colonizers were believing non-Europeans are different from Europeans making them inferior mentally and physically. It was thought, “Theologically, difference was explained as the depravity of heathens. Technologically, difference was evident to Europeans in the allegedly inferior ability of non-Europeans to control nature. Environmentally, residents of the tropics were supposedly compromised by a climate that weakened their bodily constitutions. Biologically, non-Europeans were said to differ from Europeans in a set of inalterable racial characteristics’” (Osterhammel, 109). Europeans also believed that they were fulfilling a universal historical mission as liberators from tyranny and spiritual gloom. Rulers claimed two moral duties: bring the blessings of western civilization to the inhabitants of the tropics and to activate neglected resources in backward countries for the general benefit of the world economy (Osterhammel, 109).

The reason Europeans had the confidence to go exploring to other countries was because they were able to develop a new efficient way to transport themselves to those places and this was known to be the steamers. The steamers were known to be “the kind of technology that overcomes the obstacles of nature” (Headrick, 248). It allowed them to travel to new territory such as Africa, as well as being able to carry a large amount of weaponry on board such as the “two pivot-mounted thirty-two pound guns, five six-pounders, ten small to ninety men” (Headrick, 241), which was used during the Opium War that Britain got into with China. When going out to new places Europeans will encounter resistance from those who were already living there and in order to fight that resistance the use of weapons and tactics were needed. Sure European were always able to push their way through a nation by showing them their superiority but the degree of superiority, where a small military unit can overcome a native resistance, did not appear until the mid-nineteenth century due to the revolution in firearms. The evolution of the firearms was “the result of a complex series of minor advances from many different sources…” (Headrick, 248). There were two stages to these advances, first was “percussion caps, rifling, cylindro-conoidal bullets, and paper cartridges brought the muzzle-loader to its peak of perfection” (Headrick, 248). Then you have the second stage where it began with “the breechloading Prussian needle gun and culminated in the Maxim gun” (Headrick, 249). From the muzzle-loaders to the breechloaders it was seen that there was a dramatic widening of a power gap between Europeans and non-Western peoples.

We have come to a point where modern colonialism is a topic and according to the text, “it is based on the will to make ‘peripheral’ societies subservient to the ‘metropolises’” (Osterhammel, 16). A characteristic of modern colonialism would be the unwillingness of the new rulers to make cultural concessions to subjugate societies. It is not only a relationship that can be described in structural terms, but also a particular interpretation of this relationship. In pre-modern colonialism it can be seen that the mother country would like to push their culture and beliefs to the other country they are ruling over. It isn’t until modern colonialism came did the ethnocentric arrogance come to a halt. Though it was true that the ethnocentric arrogance came to a halt it didn’t mean that the mother country didn’t employ their own men in the country to make sure things are going the way they want it. For instance in Burbank and Cooper’s article Imperial Repertoires And Myths Of Modern Colonialism they mentioned how when the French were in Africa they spent little on education and this was so that they did not learn about how they are treated unfairly even though they were promised certain things. The people of Africa were not suppose to know that there is a difference between how they are being treated. And those who did receive education served French interests meaning they willingly gave up their right to have personal matters judged under Islamic or customary law. Also in Hochschild’s King Leopold’s Ghost throughout the whole book we saw how King Leopold used the people he employed in the Congo to get what he wanted that was suppose to benefit Belgium.

Though these countries were able to conquer the countries they wanted doesn’t mean they did not have limitations. The greatest limit on European imperial power would be there being so many countries having the title of imperial power. For example, during the scrabble for Africa those in power could have easily started a war amongst each other to try and gain majority. However knowing the power each country held they decided to hold a conference and split it up. With the technological advances each country held in warfare much could have been lost just trying to gain territory in Africa. And if there were tension between the European countries then it would also reduce the amount of resources they get from each other considering how trading was a big deal among them. Another limit would be the people in the colonies they take over. In trying to make sure they remain in control the European countries made sure to educate them as little as possible. As we know knowledge can hold a lot of power. If the people of Africa gain knowledge of how rule is different in the mother country then it will occur to them that they should subject to the same rule as well. Hence why when Africans realized how harsh they were racially discriminated they found it grating. Also there is always the problem of a language barrier where intermediaries are needed to act as a middleman for those from the mother country and those native to the land. And because those from the conquering country do not have someone who understands the language and culture they will need to rely on a native which in the middle of everything can cause problems, whether it be not translating everything to working on the inside to undermine the rule of the conquering country.

Working Definitions

Colonialism: where one nation assumes control over another.

Imperialism: where one nation gain control politically or economically and expanding into the neighboring regions.

Colony: an area where it is under full or partial control by a mother country.

Empire: multiple groups/states/colonies under the control of ONE authority.

Colonialist Ideology: the belief of how things should be without the power of the mother colony therefore fighting against the colonial system.

Intermediaries: middlemen, translator, someone who goes between the conquering country and their native country

Steamboat: transportation used to make travelling easier and more convenient.

Sovereignty: having the power or authority over a country.

Questions for Further Inquiry

1) Though it is called modern imperialism, it is seen as often today?

2) Did imperialism often leave a positive or a negative affect?

About the Image

In this image, taken from Harvard University Library, it can be seen were there are two groups of people heading into a battle/war. One side we have the indigenous groups, Africa and the other side would be the ones trying to take over the place, Italy. This captures how imperialism is when one group is overpowering the other so that they can rule over them.