The Tragic Legacy of Colonialism: Exploitation, Abandonment, and Debt Slavery

Colonialism Colonialism is the establishment, exploitation, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. colonialism was a central part of an earlier form of globalization. Also referred to as the first globalization this phenomenon of modernity, is Justified by having said it brought various advances and progress to backward countries. Due to imperialist lack of long- term objectives and resources, some of these backward countries were abandoned and left in states of anarchy, forced to accept the vicious loan/debt cycle.

Colonialism's main defect in that period was that the colonies starved of resources, thus leaving the process of de-colonization the imperialist option. This effect of colonial experience was tragic and of relevance still, as these third world countries now experience a modern-day form of slavery, 'debt slavery'. The incompetence of the imperialist leaders, and their confused policies are the reason debt slavery exists Colonialism culturally brought enlightened progress, with the introduction of Christianity and medicine.

The foreign presence was of economic benefit as this is a ecessary phase of 'globalization', but this was inadequate of all that was required. In practice the imperialists generously offered conservative authority figures at most. Motivations of imperialism came from a rivalry between Britain and Germany, sided with Italy. Britain was threatened and felt they wouldn't be safe without colonies, whereas their rivals wanted to gain control over colonies to emphasize nationalism.

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Greater economic competition, ideas of racial superiority and anxiety led the European powers to erratic improvisation: based on the need to meet the latest rises in the motherland. Essentially this was all that was important, securing the future of the home country. With continual arguments by the leaders, "Are colonies worth it? " there was no sense of moral duty but the notion of self-satisfaction. They did all that would benefit their own situation and safeguard their future. Colonies were a status symbol. deas of racial superiority originated from the theory of Charles Darwin. The European powers applied this to races of people. This was their justification. Other races were inferior and they would help them. A tropical colony is colony where there is a large native population which outnumber the whites, but where the whites run the colonies. For example Nigeria. ln the article 'The World in 1800 , it discusses how slavery was popular also on the grounds of inferior race and an extraordinary Justification developed on religious argument.

The European powers also had a high idealism on the genuine spreading of Christianity. It was dedication to duty that missionaries were continually sent to West Africa to help the inferior after many white men would die upon arrival due to the unfamiliar climate. They had to govern them well. These attitudes allowed slavery to continue and the leaders to have no remorse when abandoning the colonies and coming to their financial aid where their generosity was not recognised, as their aid always produced them economic benefits.

De-Colonization came about in three shock waves. Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese war 1904and the most influential the impact of World The Japanese tougnt an anti-colonial war whether they intended to or not. This had ended the effectiveness of European control. It proved they were not invincible. In most cases of forming the colonies into independent nations, the colonies were not ready to be left on their own and suffered from extreme poverty.

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