Imperialism and Europe

Résumé du document

In 1914, Europe was at the head of its power. It represented 25% of global population and held a large share of wealth (e.g. coal production). London was the central financial place. America was in debt to Europe. 80% of foreign investments were carried out in Europe. Holland had an Empire 60 times larger than its own land size, Belgium 80 times larger and Great Britain 150 times bigger…
How can we explain the rise of imperialism?

There are two main economic explanations:
-Marx considered imperialism as the highest stage of capitalism. Competitive business is replaced by great monopolies which control imports and exports. The State follows the interest of the State. The army, the Navy and colonial civil services are concerned. In this context, civilizing the natives means integrating them in the capitalist world. It occurred in a context of rapid industrialisation described by Marx. Colonial domination was characterized by a high return of investment.

Extraits

[...] Social imperialism was defined as people's imperialism [intended] to demonstrate to the masses of the more industrially advanced nations that their interests would be furthered by the advantages the nations states gained over other nation states” (B. Semmel).It was characterised by the elaboration of ‘imagined communities' (B. Andersen) and the construction of the barbarian ‘other' and the ‘civilised' modern nation. It was a response of the elites who wanted to assert their superiority. Social Darwinism was also developed. The colonial Empire allowed petit bourgeois to be aristocrats. In Germany, colonialism was seen as necessary to preserve the national spirit. Liberal Imperialism was defended by M. Weber and F. Naumann. [...]

[...] Imperialism was thus transformed with the turn to Welpolitik in the 1890s. Germany committed the first 20th century genocide against the Herero people in South-West Africa. There was a brutalisation of imperialism because some people were designed to die out. German imperialism was linked to social Darwinism, racism and anti-Semitism. James Joyce was interested in jingoist groups and the rising opposition to imperialism in Great Britain and Germany. Genocides were criticised by the liberals and socio-democrats. Leopold led a campaign against abuses in Belgium. [...]

[...] - ‘imperialism of the masses' jingoist pressure groups These four explanations were Eurocentric explanations. There is also a peripheral explanation: imperial expansion would be a response to external stimuli (local conditions and events). French imperialism was a Republican project. There was already an Empire (e.g. Algeria colonised in 1830 under Charles other colonies under Napoleon 3rd). In France two republican politicians played an important role to develop this project: Jules Ferry and Léon Gambetta. Imperialism was seen as a political compensation (to gain prestige) but ultimately European policy took priority. [...]

[...] French Congo was purchased in 1883. In the war over Indo-China in 1885, France was defeated: it generated fear in the Parliament and Ferry was forced to resign. Georges Clemenceau was opposed to colonialism because he wanted to focus on Germany. In his opinion, European policy had primacy. Colonialism was a lost-making enterprise for France. It was motivated by internal politics. Italy is a clear case of both internal political reasons for imperialism and of the impact of periphery on metropolitan. [...]

[...] Catholic opinion was becoming an important factor (internal political reason). At the beginning, Italian imperialism was victorious. The socialist party was opposed to the government. The President/Prime Minister duality was weakened. As a consequence of these imperial policies, nationalism was strengthened and Gilolitti's system of liberal transformismo was weakened. Imperialism gave a self-definition of Europe as civilised. For instance, the barbarian civilisation was exhibited during World Fairs (ethnographic exhibitions). Geographic exhibits showed the modern reconstruction of African villages. Exhibitions were held at zoos (e.g. [...]