Introduction
Imperialism can be defined as a form of governance where the maintenance and control of a country’s power and resource are done by the military. Imperialism is also regarded as the highest form of capitalism, and it is very exploitative in terms of the country’s resource and labor forces. There are two types of imperialism that exist in the world today: regressive imperialism and progressive imperialism.
Regressive imperialism is the exploitation of a country’s native to enrich the few in the society through exploitation and extermination of undesired people in the society. Progressive imperialism promotes the culture and the elevation of the people’s living standards without exploiting the country’s resources for the benefit of the few. Modern imperialism is an extension of the military form of government.
In this case, the control and management of a country’s resources are done by the military. The country market system is controlled by the political heads who govern the country. In this case, they dictate the form of goods that the country will export or import at a certain period. The issues of the free market in the country’s system do not exist.
Thus, the export and import of goods are controlled by government agencies that dictate the labor force requirement in the country. Modern imperialism has been applied in several countries.
However, according to economic analysts, the market system of a country need to have less government control of economic development. In a capitalist market, the force of demand and supply are critical in the development and growth of the economy. In this case, the country dictates what people want to consume and the price of the goods and service.
On the other hand, globalization can be defined as the interconnection that exists in the world where countries and states can share issues that regard to economic, social-cultural, and political activities. With globalization, people from different parts of the world can share and interact with one another in regards to knowledge ideas, goods and services easily (Gangopadhyay, 166). With the advancement in technology, globalization has been enhanced.
People from one continent can share information quickly by accessing the internet or a telephone call. Globalization is said to have a long history. It dates back to ancient times when the Greeks used to spread information around Asia, Europe, and Africa. The Greeks used to promote the exchange of goods and ideas across the three continents where they could trade goods like silk, porcelain, and spices.
As time went by, the Europeans established their colonies in continents like Africa, America, and Asia. They started as explorers to spread Christianity in the newfound continents. Globalization was accelerated with the start of the industrial revolution in the 19th century (Koebner, Richard, and Helmut, 145). Globalization has played a major role in the diversification of various technologies through sharing information among citizens from different countries.
Modern Imperialism and Economic globalization
Economic globalization is a term used to refer to the diversification of production in countries where improvement and advancement in technology have improved the way of doing business. The new world leaders are striving to improve the economic condition of their country. This is through sharing crucial information with other countries to create a better production hub for economic supremacy.
Different countries in modern times have put globalization into use through the expert flow of ideas and technology in their production industries. Information sharing is crucial regarding the best practices the capitalist government needs to commercialize their products. Globalization has improved the way of doing business as customers can pass their information to the manufacturer of their preference and taste.
With modern imperialism, the production of various products in the market as the government provides information and guideline of what is to be produced. In modern times, countries should strive to be in good working conditions with one another.
Thus, they should coexist peacefully and depend on each other for economic gains, which are shared between two trading countries. Sharing of information about new technology and machinery have been effected through globalization and thus the need to emphasize the usefulness of globalization in the world (Body-Gendrot, 45).
The study of modern imperialism has been instrumental in improving the production of an economic system. In this case, it has helped in changing from human labor in technology form of production. Imperialism in the early days emphasized on human labor rather than technology or mechanization of operations in production.
Human labor was deemed slow and ineffective as it would get tired and thus machinery and technology had to be intertwined to help in improving production. Modern imperialism started at around the seventies and has greatly improved the way people view globalization (Koebner, Richard, and Helmut, 145). Through the study of modern imperialism, economic experts can understand how different forces in a country affect decision making.
This is regarding the production and economic growth and development. The European colonized other countries, especially those in America and Africa. They used a form of governance that exploited the colonies by forcing them to work on their farms and industries. The natives had to work long hours in industries with little pay and poor working conditions.
The hardship in the colonies resulted in the native’s used guerilla warfare to resist the form of governance used by the Europeans. This led to revolutions over time as the natives needed to have the freedom and their rights be respected. The long struggle in most colonies helped the natives to enjoy the freedom in their own country rather than work in poor conditions for the benefit of the few Europeans who were colonizing them (Gangopadhyay, 166).
Most of the European colonies are in Africa. However, after they gained their independence, they lacked proper management of their country’s resource. In this case, only a few leaders could take up the mantle of managing their countries. The elite citizens have always benefited from the imperialism that exists in such countries as they seek to exploit the masses for the benefit of the few.
These forms of imperialism emphasized on labor form of production as citizens are made to work in industries without proper mechanization. The control of the market system in the economy has degraded the use of raw materials and machinery in production. In the 18th and 19th century, the European explorers who colonized African countries introduced imperialism as a form of governance.
This was meant to exploit the natives. For instance, the European strived to get raw material for the industries in their home country. The exploitation of natives extended even after the African countries gained independence.
Economic globalization in former colonies is being influenced by the governance that exists among its leaders. Leaders can be extreme capitalists in the exploitation of their citizens with low pay and poor, working conditions coupled with excessive corruption and poor management.
Poor execution of policies in the economy has hindered any development in these countries as decision making is done to benefit a few people rather benefit the whole population. Former colonies have always followed the footsteps of their colonizers and the way they govern themselves is believed to be a replica of former rulers.
Economic globalization in most of the African and Asian countries that were former colonies of the European rule face low development due to modern imperialism. Economic globalization enhances how the country’s economy grow and develop with increased production and consumption.
Production in any country needs to be well monitored to use efficient methods that will save on the cost of production with increased quantity. Most colonies have failed to address the issue of good governance that will ensure that the citizens in the country and thus lag in terms of development (Lenin, 74).
Modern imperialism helps to find the relationship with the governance of most of the former colonies and how they affect economic activities in the country. Economic globalization in most of these countries or states is at a low level as the government fears to implement the guidelines in a move to improve production. Economic globalization refers to the exchange of ideas and information that relate to production and consumption in a given country.
The economy of a country relies mostly on factors of production. These factors should be well integrated to give out goods and services that citizens in a given country should enjoy. Any excess production is exported to the international market. This helps to earn foreign exchange, which is used to buy products that the country cannot produce.
Interdependence between states is crucial in terms of exchanging goods in a free market through an improving relationship between countries. Exchange of information about technology helps a country to improve on its production in industries with the integration of human labor to increase efficiency (Lenin, 66).
Conclusion
Through understanding modern imperialism, which plays a major role in most of the former European colonies around the world, one can pinpoint the reason behind poor economic globalization in these countries. The colonies lack a better means of governance as very few individuals exploit the country’s resources for their benefit. Government leaders in these countries fail to address the plight of their citizens.
Instead, they concentrate on exploiting the country’s resource for their self benefit with the help of a few elite citizens in the country. The fear of economic globalization in these countries has been a generation to generation poor governance that fails to address the issues affecting the country. Modernization of operations in industries and companies has failed to kick off within these countries.
Thus, they end up having low production coupled with the use of excess labor with little returns. This has led to poor economic growth among most Asian and African countries as a result of failing to embrace globalization. This will help them improve their production method coupled with good governance.
Embracing globalization will help them enhance better ties with developed countries. This will promote economic growth and development by sharing information and technology, which will facilitate better production methods and techniques.
Works Cited
Body-Gendrot, Sophie. Globalization, Fear and Insecurity: The Challenges for Cities North and South. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. Print.
Gangopadhyay, Partha. Economic Globalization in Asia. Aldershot [u.a.: Ashgate, 2005. Print.
Koebner, Richard, and Helmut D. Schmidt. Imperialism: The Story and Significance of a Political Word, 1840-1960. Cambridge: University Press, 1965. Print.
Lenin, Vladimir I. Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism. Sydney: Resistance Books, 1999. Print.