Baljeet explains that imperialism is a policy of extending control over nations, unlike colonialism’s direct settlement and rule, exclusively for Different Truths. Historically common, it’s resurging through various means.
Imperialism refers to a broader policy of a nation extending its direct or indirect control over another nation or region through diplomacy, military force or economic domination, for example, the British Empire’s control over India and the Scramble for Africa by European powers.
While colonialism is a specific form of imperialism where a powerful country directly settles and rules over another country or territory, exploiting its resources and people, for instance, the French colonisation of Algeria and the Spanish colonisation of Latin America.
Right from ancient times to the modern era, strong rulers driven by imperialistic instincts aspired to expand their empires either by annexing or extending control and influence over other territories to satiate their greed and lust for power. The Romans and the Greeks, the Ottomans in the Middle East and the Safavids in Persia were all imperialistic regimes.
New Imperialism
In the latter half of the 19th century, a new imperialism, or economic imperialism, made its way. The industrial changes in the European countries led them to explore new markets in far-off territories for raw material and the consumption of their surplus goods. The blind race to acquire more colonies among the Europeans brought about not only the partition of Africa but also the acquisition of almost the whole of Asia.
However, after World War II, the economies of all colonies, barring the United States of America, collapsed. Hence, it became difficult for them to hold and administer colonies. Moreover, their persistent economic exploitation fostered the feeling of nationalism among the people of the colonised states; consequently, they revolted and became independent over time. And then the creation of the United Nations Organisation was meant to uphold sovereignty, equality and peace among the nations. All this put a full stop to the era of imperialism and colonialism.
But over the last decade or so, imperialistic forces have again been trying to resurge. The backsliding of democracy due to corruption, unemployment, inflation and uncontrolled immigration has led to the emergence of autocratic rulers in many countries. This trend has gained impetus with the assumption of political power by Donald Trump as President of the United States.
The Chinese Expansion
Before him, President Xi Jinping of China, wielding unchallenged power since 2013, has also been making consistent efforts to expand the Chinese empire. He has acquired full control of Hong Kong, which was handed over to China by the British in July 1997 on the condition that it would be a special administrative region with its laws. But violating this provision of the agreement, the Chinese government passed a security law in 2020 by which it has asserted its full authority over it, despite stiff resistance from its people.
Now, China is keeping its covetous eye on Taiwan, which became independent in 1949. China considers it as its part and is hell-bent on annexing it. The Chinese air force often violates Taiwan’s airspace, and its warships are also seen circling this island. On the same lines, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in power since 2012, had taken full control of the Crimea in 2014 and has now waged full-scale war on Ukraine to annex it. Its eastern regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, are already in complete control of Russia. Then Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has been bombing the Gaza Strip since October 2023 and has also established illegal settlements in the West Bank with a clear intention to occupy these Palestinian territories.
President Trump’s Aggression
President Donald Trump is more aggressive than Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu in this context. He has repeatedly stated to control, if not annex, the Panama Canal and Greenland. Both are geopolitically, economically and militarily important for the United States. The Panama Canal was earlier controlled by it, but was handed over to Panama in 1999. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is the shortest global trade route for ships. Forty per cent of the U.S. ships pass through it, and hence its importance to the United States. Trump alleges that the Panama Canal is now being controlled by China.
Notwithstanding denials by the Panamanian President, Trump is committed to controlling it for national security and economic gains. As for Greenland, its location between the United States and Russia, northeast of Canada, near the Arctic Ocean, is strategically very important. Most of its area is covered with ice sheets. It is a semi-autonomous region under Denmark and is rich in oil, natural gas and earth minerals. Moreover, with the melting of its ice due to rising temperatures, more sea routes will bolster international trade.
Having control over it, the United States will not only be able to lay its hands on its oil and minerals but will also be able to oversee the activities of Russia and China in this region. Moreover, it already has a Thule Air Base in it. Trump is determined to control it, irrespective of the wishes of the Greenlanders and stiff opposition from the Danish authorities. Trump has also expressed his desire to acquire the Gaza Strip and asked Palestinians to leave for Jordan and Egypt. He has also proposed to make Canada the 51st state of America. Tariffs are being imposed on the goods of countries to twist their arms and force them to the wishes of the expansionist.
The Tariff Wars
Thus, the policies and actions of the autocratic rulers of China, Russia, Israel and the United States of America indicate their motives either to control or influence or occupy other regions or territories through strategy, economic exploitation or military force. This is a flagrant violation of the charter of the United Nations, which upholds the sovereignty, equality and independence of all nations. The ensuing tariff wars are a clear sign of impending economic depression around the world. The resurgence of imperialism, therefore, would lead to friction, jealousy and enmity among the nations and thereby would endanger the peace of the world at large.
Picture design by Anumita Roy
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As always, you have chosen a topic that demands attention and cleared the dust of overlap by the clarity of your expression.
Perhaps you could also consider writing about British colonialism in India: unlike the French in North Africa and their pieds noirs
brought in from Europe, the British didn’t actually settle in. Apart from tea plantations owned by companies, there was no such thing as
farmers settled in. To the best of my knowledge, very few. If that is the case and not just my ignorance, please shed light on this.