Pros of Imperialism
1. Exposure leads to a new culture.
Imperialism creates an opportunity for people to experience new cultures. Cultures are very diverse with unique qualities. Through this interaction, people exchange cultures and replicate them. This interaction has numerous benefits for humanity at large. Imperialism, therefore, creates room for beneficial interaction among people. Through imperialism, nations can rediscover their vocabulary and heritage, creating intercultural relations. However, historically imperialism has not come without cons.
2. Global modernization.
Technology is imported through imperialism. News and events are more accessible as a result, and hence the world is more connected. The introduction of the transistor enabled people to access direct information and events. Furthermore, industrialization is encouraged to boost the economy of nations. This technological transfer benefits people since they can interact and earn a living through technical and industrial jobs. Imperialism has also encouraged space exploration, which has contributed to discoveries and new knowledge. Through global modernization, nations accelerate faster than they would otherwise have done on their own.
3. It has boosted industrialization.
The colonized nations greatly benefited from imperialism. Through imperialism, countries have benefited from infrastructure and machinery. Manufacturing and trade, as a result, have blossomed, contributing to progress and massive employment hence raising the standards of individuals. Through industrialization, resources are utilized efficiently, boosting the economy of the nations. Industrialization creates fast economic growths and improves technology leading to mass production of goods and their distribution hence maximizing their profit.
4. Development of infrastructure.
Infrastructure was and is being improved by imperialists. In an attempt to extract minerals, infrastructure was developed to enhance transportation. As a result, local communities benefit from this infrastructure, and areas are made more accessible. Furthermore, communication has been improved through imperialism, and people can access information more easily.
Railway lines developed as a result of imperialism, leading to massive transportation of goods and people. This has eased the movement of both people and interests, leading to interaction and cultural transfer. It was also leading to economic progress. This contributed to the evolution of infrastructure at large.
5. Creation of institutions.
Imperialism led to the creation of institutions such as hospitals, schools, and other mission centers. These institutions benefited local communities in many ways, including health and education. Africans, in particular, we’re able to access better health services. These better health services led to increased lifespan and population growth because dangerous diseases could now be easily treated and vaccinated against. Additionally, Africans benefited from formal education. Access to formal education produced experts in many areas hence improving the standards of living of people. These experts can solve challenges and contribute to knowledge, leading to the improvement of society at large.
Additionally, modern curriculums are a result of imperialism. This curriculum is based on solving basic needs in line with global objectives; scholarship opportunities also exist that connect international students. This scholarship opportunity connects the world and contributes to knowledge where developing countries gain access to education, contributing to procedural knowledge. This scholarship opportunity creates a chance for exploring the world and interaction with the benefit of gaining procedural knowledge and skills.
6. Global defense.
Imperialism has contributed to overall defense in the world. Peace and stability have been guaranteed due to global cooperation. For example, American imperialism has been very supportive in ensuring peace and stability hence contributing to defensive support in the world. Additionally, training of the military is done by powerful countries in addition to providing equipment. For example, the combined effort has been made to counter conflict and terrorism across the globe. Consequently, nations have been able to enjoy peace, and conflict has been resolved. The issue of terrorism has been declared a global threat, and therefore there is a combined effort to deal with acts of terrorism through moral and physical threats.
7. Better market access.
Imperialistic nations are market-oriented and focus more on profit-seeking. Therefore, they see it as a moral imperative to expand their market. This desire to expand markets promotes cooperation which enhances access to products and services. These nations ensure that they maintain a relationship with their colonial subjects to trade with them effectively. This creates an available market for their manufactured goods as well as technology. For example, the Americans have had better access to the Caribbean, gaining access to Agricultural items.
8. Increase in food production.
Food production increased due to improved farming methods. Imperialists provided farming equipment which made farming much more accessible. Additionally, other agricultural inputs such as fertilizers are made available. This combination of resources increases yield in general, and therefore food security is guaranteed. Pesticides and herbicides are also more readily available making pest and weed control easy. This mechanization of agriculture is made possible by imperialistic nations that support developing nations with equipment and research.
9. Introduction of democracy.
As nations attempted to spread beyond their territorial boundaries, they did spread with them their ideologies. Democracy, as a result, was exported to other nations hence providing a way for fair elections. This system of democracy ensures that human rights are promoted. Therefore nations such as the U.S.A, France, and Great Britain monitor democracy and ensure that elections are free and fair and that human rights are not violated. As a result, national cohesion developed and became much more vital. This shapes the foreign policy and leadership of nations.
10. Imperialism creates room for interaction through sports.
Imperialism provides room for a nation to interact through sports. This interaction strengthens the bond between nations. For example, the Common Wealth game creates a sporting activity among the Britain former colonies. This provides a chance for nations to interact and exchange culture. Moreover, through imperialism, sports governing bodies such as FIFA have developed that ensures football is equally played in all nations without discriminating against third-world countries. For instance, countries in Africa and other developing countries are given funds to develop their sporting activities to better compete with the already developed countries.
11. Strengthens the economy of nations.
Imperialism may at times strengthen the economy of weaker nations. Occupied countries benefit from powerful nation’s economic strategies, and their economy grows as a result. Furthermore, the strong nation constantly works on improving and shaping the economy in a particular direction which accelerates change. Developing countries are rendered loans with minimal or free interests to work on their infrastructure and the health sector. Therefore, developing countries can benefit mutually from the Iconic world giants countries.
12. Imperialism creates international cooperation.
Through their imperialistic strategies, powerful nations can coordinate global cooperation in handling global issues such as dealing with a global pandemic that threatens the health of individuals. This guarantees international cooperation and understanding with countries that need to be helped in such a crisis. Other risks that require international cooperation include drought and famine as well as natural calamities such as floods.
13. Strengthens social cohesion.
People can interact through social media, and therefore a sense of unity is expressed. With the spread of religion, humans have been able to identify with other members far from their locations and exercise solidarity in celebrations or tragedies.
14. Imperialism has opened the world.
The exploration of the world by imperialists has opened the world and led to the establishment of trade routes and infrastructure development. This has made it possible for people and goods to move. Additionally, it is from this exploration that tourism flourishes.
15. Development of languages.
International languages have been developed as a result of imperialism. The strong nations have established their language and have, therefore, made other small nations adopt their languages for cooperation. These languages make cooperation easy and strengthen trade since speaking the same language makes trading convenient.
Cons of Imperialism
1. Creates conflicts.
People are naturally opposed to dominance. Pride in one’s nation and culture is significant and the very aspect of patriotism. Therefore, an attempt to interfere with their affairs triggers conflict. Nations are willing to go to war to safeguard their sovereignty. Many wars have been fought based on resisting imperialism. This costs the life of many people as well as wastage of resources that are geared towards war.
2. It is expensive.
The cost of maintaining influence is prohibitive. It requires a considerable budget to finance imperialism since it involves expansion. Imperialism is geared towards dominancy. Therefore, taxpayers pay more to maintain external influence. For example, U.S.A spends a total of $ 600 billion annually on defense. Maintaining and training troops is very expensive in addition to purchasing weapons. Furthermore, offering foreign aid to nations is quite expensive since developing countries are ever demanding aid. As a result, maintaining a global presence requires a lot of money that could otherwise be used to fund other relevant projects.
3. Interferes with spiritual beliefs.
Imperialists perceive what they do like the best, and therefore, they feel that other people should follow. They portray their cultures as the best and feel that their societies are the ideal society. Therefore, they see it as a moral imperative to civilize other cultures. They strongly cling on to certain beliefs that form a solid religious belief. This perception creates the desire to superimpose those values to others, resulting in conflict becoming inevitable. Over the years, many conflicts have occurred when some nations try to flex their muscles on others. This attempt to prove superiority is often met with resistance and may even trigger a civil war. Subjecting people to foreign ideologies contaminates their culture and may even dilute their cultural identity.
4. Imperialism creates a discriminative attitude.
Imperialism creates a discriminative environment where people are treated differently simply because their cultures are treated as inferior. Imperialists feel that they have ultimate control and power and that their decisions are final and just. This discriminative denies others the chance for participation, and their decisions are not valued. Additionally, they are discriminated against and taken as inferiors, and treated as such. This strips them of any opportunity for equal participation in essential matters. Many are the time these nations are invited to meetings only to be dominated by superior nations. Their voices are found to be totally useless and therefore worth not listening to. Additionally, implementation and policy-making are done by only nations.
5. Imperialism eliminates and dilutes cultures.
This imperialistic interaction hurts culture. The dominant culture suppresses the minor cultures. Many ethnic groups have become extinct since the strong cultures have diluted them or eliminate them. This elimination is made possible by the fact that the need of the superiors seems more important than their own cultural needs. Therefore, due to this dominancy, their culture is easily eliminated. The inability to support them sufficiently leaves them prone to manipulation and exposes their culture to imperialists.
6. Spread of diseases.
Imperialism brings with it new fatal diseases. Before the European invasion of the African Continent, the local people were not familiar with certain diseases. However, after the invasion, very devastating diseases started being experienced. These diseases were a catastrophe to the continent and still account for more deaths than the local diseases. These diseases include HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. The treatment of these diseases has proved to be very expensive and deprives the African continent of its population. With these diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, other issues such as stigma arise, and in the process, victims struggle with low self-esteem, which affects their personality and happiness.
7. Slavery.
Expansionist policies by powerful nations entail some form of slavery. This is because people are owned against their will. People are forced to work in specific enterprises to earn a living. Freedom of choice is limited or not guaranteed since any deviation from the policies automatically risks the earning status.
8. Imperialism creates conflict among imperialist nations themselves.
Imperial nations may find themselves in conflict due to conflicting reasons. The quest for more resources is the main drive for imperialism, and therefore, many nations are always interested in extracting resources where they find them easy. A stronger nation may annex a weaker nation to extract its resources and trigger another powerful nation to counter that. These two powerful nations may find themselves in conflict. This creates an agitated political atmosphere that strains the relationship between them and, if not solved, can eventually lead to war.
9. Leads to exploitation.
Imperialism leads to the exploitation of the so perceived weaker nations. The stronger nations work tirelessly to ensure that the weaker nations conform to them for their benefit. As a result of this conformity, their resources are exploited and left with fewer and fewer resources. Sadly, these resources do not benefit them, and therefore, they are left poor and with fewer resources, making it hard for them to attain economic prosperity. Contrary, the stronger with this exploitative attitude continues to grow stronger and stronger.
10. Imperialism divides people.
The problem of ethnicity traces its root and route in imperialism. Before the European invasion of Africa, African communities were well-integrated and peaceful. However, after the invasion and the use of the divide and rule policy, division based on ethnicity became inevitable. Imaginary boundaries were created and without much uniformity hence exploiting some communities while favoring others. These historical injustices disturb many ethnic groups today and can be seen as the cause of ethnic conflicts today.
Furthermore, imperialists favor a particular group and provide resources to them to suppress others within the nation. This creates factions within the nation and may even lead to civil war in extreme cases.
11. Imperialism leads to the formation of cartels.
Strong countries that have a vision of dominating others must do so with equally ambitious people. These people, at times, are cartels who tend to run things behind the scenes and may have very radical ideas that may strain relations with other nations or threaten global peace.
12. Imperialism leads to war.
When the interests of the powerful nations are similar, and the resources are not many, conflicts may arise. For example, the First World War was caused by imperial factors, among others. The need for colonies in Africa led to eventual disputes and finally culminated in war.
13. Imperialism leads to divisions within the imperial nation.
Not all people are for the idea of conquest. This difference in opinion creates factions within the nation, and some people may call for the termination of imperial missions. This may lead to public cry and at times, demonstrations may occur.
14. Imperialism leads to racism.
Strong countries perceive themselves as superior to other countries and think that their race is superior and should civilize other races. When embraced by other powerful nations, this racial approach creates and strengthens the concept of Social Darwinism, which views other races as inferior. This creates room for the most disturbing global problem –racism.
15. The population becomes scattered.
When Europeans established colonies in the Caribbean, they established plantations. These plantations required labor. Africa was seen as a source of cheap labor, and therefore, they were transported in large numbers from the African continent to the Caribbean islands leading to population scattering.
References.
http://www.mystudytimes.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-imperialism-in-politics/
https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/key2mideast/chapter/the-impact-of-imperialism-on-the-region/
