Lecture 3: Capitalism, Imperialism and Post-Colonial Georgraphies

Imperialism

practice by which a country extends its power and influence over other nations or territories, often through military force, colonization, or economic domination. (basically become strong become an empire) 

Ex: British empire, German expansion, arguably cold war America 

Neo-Colonialism

Modern form of colonialism where a country exerts control over another territory or nation not through direct political or military means, but through economic and cultural influence.

Ex: Extraction of ressources in Arica, China’s BRI, Tik tok

Richard Ovary

Believes tha both World War I and World War II are shaped by imperial ambitions and colonial interests.

John Bellamy Foster (Marxist)

Believes that imperialism is an intrinsic part of capitalist expansion. Capitalism's need for new markets and resources drives nations to engage in imperialist practices. As a result empires prevail the global north profits and survives fromeconomic and ecological dominance of the Global South.

Modernisation Theory by Rostow

All countries go through stages in their development from traditional to modern economies

• Traditional society

• Pre conditions for take

• take off

• drive to maturity

• mass consumption society 

Critisism for Rostows Modernisation Theory

Overly simplistic, deterministic, and Eurocentric. Used to perpetuate american capitalism and extraction natural ressources. Traditional, pre comnditons for takeoff, takeoff, drive to what maturity high mass consomption society. Ahistoric

Wallersteins an opp btw

The problem of Orientalism

Idea of orientalism prevailed from colonial times and installed lasting imagery in how we percieve the west and the rest. Decolonialisation of our collective imaginations is still very much needed.

Frantz Fanon: The Wretched of the Earth (1961) 

Strongly focused not only on the lingering economic, cultural and political affects of colonialism but also the psychological. Emphasis on the fact that the riches of the colonial countries stems from oppression. Calls for action from the people to resist the colonised

Dual Economy Theory

Dscribes a country with two distinct economic sectors: a modern, industrialized sector and a traditional, often rural and agrarian, sector

Wallersteins Mini System

refers to a smaller, self-contained social unit that produces its own goods for consumption. These systems typically existed before the emergence of the modern world-system and can be seen in pre-capitalist societies.

Wallerstein World System

Suggests that the world is divided into a hierarchical system comprising core, semi-periphery, and periphery nations, which interact economically and politically in ways that perpetuate inequalities and dependencies.

The Economic Contradiction of Capitalism

Capitalists seek to maximize surplus value to generate profit. Reinvest surplus value to accumulate more capital, which is essential for growth. This pursuit often leads to cost-cutting measures, including reducing labor costs or increasing productivity. Reduced labor cost me people no mow money and so no mo demande

The Political Contradiction of Capitalism

“whenever the tenants of privilege seek to co-opt an oppositional movement by including them in a minor share of the privilege, they may no doubt eliminate opponents in the short-run; but they also up the ante for the next oppositional movement created in the next crisis of the world-economy."

Mao’s theory of constant struggle against capitalism (it’s never enough)

Foster’s take on capitalism/imperialism (2025)

Foster's primary take is a comprehensive defense and reaffirmation of V. I. Lenin's overall theory of imperialism,

Imperialism = highest/monopoly stage of capitalism

Conflict of capitalism isn’t just within a country but one over another

Exploitation of the super periphery

Imperialism exists and is getting worse