The New Imperialism

Course: HIST 1112: World History II
Instructor: Dr. Romero

Definition of Imperialism

Imperialism:
- The extending of a nation’s authority through territorial acquisition or via economic and political control over other nations.

“New Imperialism”:
- Refers to the period beginning in the late 1800s.
- Characterized by European powers (alongside the U.S. and Japan) establishing control over distant regions.
- The goal was systematic exploitation of human and natural resources of the colonies.
- Coincides with a general peace among major world powers, with their aggression directed towards less "civilized" or "developed" regions of the world.

What’s “New” About the “New Imperialism”?

Extent:
- European, American, and Japanese empires claimed sovereignty over 80% of the Earth's land surface.
Intensity:
- The extension of control was quicker and more effective than ever before.

Regions in Focus:

Spanish Morocco and Regions of Influence
- Includes territories like Madeira, Ifni, Canary Islands, Río de Oro, Algeria, Tunisia, etc.
Imperialism in South and Southeast Asia (c. 1914):
- Key regions: British-controlled India, French Indochina, and significant territories in East Africa and beyond.

Second Industrial Revolution:
- Transformed Western societies creating an increased demand for new resources and markets.
- Shift from reliance on cotton, iron ore, and coal to petroleum, rubber, chemical products, steel, and aluminum.
- Colonized peoples became crucial in this global system, with considerable improvements in the quality of life in the West but only marginal benefits for themselves.

Empires provided outlets for political activity amid societal transformations.
Civil society organizations and philanthropic groups advocated for imperialism, urging governments to allocate more resources for empire-building.
The women’s suffrage movement in the UK argued that managing the excesses of empire would be improved with female representation in government.

The competition among Great Powers led to a race for colonies, as colonies were vital for demonstrating national power.
French politician Jules Ferry emphasized in an 1884 speech:
- “Spreading light without acting, without taking part in global affairs… is to abdicate and eventually decline from the first rank to the third and fourth.”

European powers often framed their imperialistic expansion within moral or ethical justifications rooted in racism and notions of Western superiority.
Civilizing mission:
- France claimed a civilizing mission, while the UK promoted the idea of the “White Man’s Burden.”
- This ideology suggested that European powers had a unique role in guiding non-whites toward more civilized practices and beliefs.
Non-European powers also embraced similar paternalistic ideologies, exemplified by U.S. actions towards Native Americans, Filipinos, and Latin Americans, and Japan's attitudes toward other Asian nations.

Stated that in pursuing civilization, Britain was fulfilling a national mission, allowing for the exercise of attributes that had rendered them a great governing race.
Acknowledged bloodshed in Africa but contended it was necessary to eradicate barbarism, slavery, and superstition.
- “Great is the task, great is the responsibility, but great is the honor!”

Indigenous peoples exhibited diverse responses, with many advocating for Westernization or modernization to effectively resist colonial powers.
This approach was particularly noted among populations in Japan, China, and Muslim communities within the Russian Empire.
Alternatively, groups emphasizing traditionalism argued that Western powers had gained strength through the corruption of traditional cultures.
These differing responses to Western imperialism continue to influence contemporary global dynamics.

In 1890, prohibition against selling weapons to Africans was established.
Boer Wars (1899-1902):
- Marked the first use of concentration camps in modern history.
Herero and Namaqua Genocide:
- Occurred in German South West Africa resulting in approx. 65,000 deaths.
Belgian Congo:
- Approximately 10 million deaths attributed to the forced labor system aimed at harvesting rubber.