Causes that lead Western European Countries to Imperialism

Topic: The causes that lead Western European countries to favour Imperialism as
a foreign policy and the effects this had on Sub-Saharan Africa and/or Asian co
untries Nationalist movements. (pick either a region or regions as well as a cou
ntry or countries).
NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS AGAINST WESTERN IMPERIALISM
Imperialism is the policy of a state defending to take economic and political co
ntrol of an area for the access to hard resources and market advantage. (imperia
lism, globalisation, no date, p.1) Beside the economic point of view, the proces
s of imperialism can not be defined without the cultural concepts such as imposi
ng a religion, traditions or a language of a nation. With these two main perspec
tives, Europe always had the policy to exploit the underdeveloped regions of the
world. In contrast to European desires, the imperialistic policies was refused
by the nationalist movements of the public of exploited regions. The imperialist
ic policies of West to gain economic benefits and cultural expansion resulted wi
th nationalistic counter policies created by the elite that were supported by th
e public of exploited regions in terms of liberation struggles and rebellions.
Western European countries favored imperialism as a foreign policy to reach the
raw materials of underdeveloped regions and increase their market. By the indust
rial revolution, the production in Europe had accelerated immensely resulting wi
th increasing importance and necessity of raw materials. Due to limited sources
in Europe, contrary to the variety in Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, Euro
pean countries favored imperialism. Moreover, not only the necessity of sources,
but also the need of market because of the increased production led them to per
form imperialism. In this sense, South Africa is a good example to emphasize the
causes of imperialism. In the 18th century, there was no colonial settlement in
South Africa but after the discovery of diamonds, the situation was replaced wi
th British settlement aiming to use those mine resources.(South Africa: History,
1995, p.1)
In addition to the economic causes of imperialism, the desire of cultural expan
sion in terms of language, tradition and religion was another cause of European
imperialism. The reason for Europeans to have the desire to impose their culture
was the idea of being superior than the other civilizations. Moreover they acce
pt neither any African civilization nor Africans as humans. Therefore the Euro c
entric idea based on creating an African civilization which did not exist forced
them to use their language and be accustomed to their traditions and religion.
For instance Cecile Rhodes was advocating British superiority and claiming that
British invasion was essential for a better civilized world. (Zartman W., 2000,
p. 92)
Somehow, imperialistic policies crash with counter policies of the exploited re
gions that imperialism is not an easy continued process. The elite of exploited
areas created nationalism to prevent the imperialistic countries' policies which
is known as the "elite manipulation". Elite, being aware of economic damage of
imperialism on their own prosperity, tried to protest imperialism by nationalist
policies. In fact these policies aimed to recover the economic prosperity of th
e country. However they seemed to be quite nationalist with the goal of gaining
public's self determination. There appeared some institutions advocating these p
olicies. One of these institutions was established in 1885 in India named "Hindu
Indian National Congress" aiming the self determination of the public.(The Begi
nnings of Indian Nationalism, no date, p.1) That was showing the significance of
the policies of the elite through the process of self determination.
By the ideology of these institutions, the public accepted policies of the elit

e and started their own self-determination struggle in terms of nationalist and

cultural rebellions. Through the time passed while imperialism was taking place,
the public got tired of these imperialistic policies' dominance and as a result
some protests appeared. One of these protests was against the Portuguese tax co
llectors and traders in Bailundo. (BBC WORLD SERVICE, no date, p.1) In time, suc
h kinds of rebellions led them to go to liberation struggles which was the highe
st level of nationalism. In these struggles, their aim was to gain their freedom
to live their own culture on their own territories.
To sum up, the cause of imperialism was economic on the bases of necessity of r
aw materials and marketing. What made raw materials so important was the rapid i
ncrease of production by the industrial revolution. In addition to these, the ot
her main cause of imperialism was cultural in terms of imposing religion, langua
ge and tradition to underdeveloped countries to show the dominance of the Europe
. To cope with imperialism, elite of the exploited regions such as Sub Saharan A
frica and Central Asia created nationalistic policies and the public supported t
hem by the rebellions and liberation struggles against the Western Imperialism.
REFERENCES:
BBC WORLD SERVICE. (No date). Tax Wars. ANGOLA'S FIRST REBELLION,
from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/11chapter10.shtm
l
Daniels, A. Imperialism,(no date) Globalization and the Rule of the Few, Retriev
ed
November 28, 2002, from
http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/andrew/prague1.html
Lincoln, D.(1995) The Beginnings of Indian Nationalism, from
http://165.29.91.7/classes/humanities/worldstud/97-98/imper/india/national.htm
TRH Davenport, (No date). Facts on File World News CD-ROM. South Africa: Histor
y, from
http://www.facts.com/cd/c01001.htm
Zartman W. (2000). Traditional Cures for Modern Conflicts. United States of Amer
ica: Lynee Rienner Publishers
OUTLINE:
1-) Brief summary about what the imperialism concept comes from.
aTwo main perspectives of Western Imperialism.
bNationalistic movements of exploited regions.
c- Thesis: The imperialistic policies of West to gain economic benefits
and cultural
expansion resulted with nationalistic counter policies created
by the elite that were supported by the public of exploited regions in terms of
liberation struggles and rebellions.
2-) Western Imperialism as a foreign policy to reach the raw materials and incre
ase the market
a- Increasing acceleration of production with industrial revolution.
bLimited sources in Europe, contrary to the variety in Central Asia and
Sub-Saharan Africa.
cUse of resources of underdeveloped regions by "west".
- "South Africa" example
3-) West's desire of cultural expansion in terms of language, tradition and re
ligion
aThe idea of being superior than the other civilizations.
bBritish superiority
- "Cecile Rhodes" example
4-) Nationalism to prevent the imperialistic countries' policies: "elite manipul

ation"
aPolicies of the elite aiming to recover the economic prosperity of the e
xploited regions
bGoal of gaining public's self determination
cAppearance of some institutions advocating the policies
"Hindu Indian National Congress", established in 1885
5-) Public's acceptance the policies of the elite and beginning their own selfdetermination struggle in terms of nationalist and cultural rebellions.
"Bailundo" example about the protest against the European tax collectors
and traders.
6-) Conclusion of the whole essay by re-stating the ideas that have been mention
ed

Category : History
Views : 18515