concept of colonialism, imperialism and economic development

 concept of colonialism, imperialism and economic development

Introduction

The process by which relevant journal articles, books and theses are examined or reviewed based on a particular research topic is regarded as a literature review. Notably, the existing literature is explored during the review. The current review is based on the concept of colonialism, imperialism and economic development. The European context shall be considered, and controversies or assumptions related to these phenomenons shall be evaluated. Colonialism can be referred to as a practice, while imperialism is the foundation or the idea behind the practice. The idea of imperialism has driven colonialism. Colonialism is a practice of settlement which began about 400 years ago. European colonialism has completely changed the economic landscape of the world. It created the free-market capitalism, and the practice of trade emerged. A controversial or debatable aspect of colonialism is that it might have been driven by economic consequences; however, the cultural factors also played a vital role. The review will further shed light on the existing research on European imperialism and colonialism. The research will be useful because it will allow the researcher to understand the factors that drives political and economic changes.

Body

The impact of colonialism

According to Knapp (2007), economic, political or any form of the direct control of one nation over another is generally regarded and accepted as colonialism. The nation or state under the control of the dominant nation is economically as well as politically dependant. Therefore, the author’s opinion can be further evaluated, and it can be opined that economic or political dependence might have counter-effect on the subordinate state or nation. This is because political and economic relations might be unequal. The perception regarding the impact of colonialism is relative. This one-way dependence often has a negative impact on the subordinate state or nation. In this study, the author has given evidence of colonial regimes taking advantage of regional economies for serving the needs of cities and towns. The paper has been written in the context of South American colonialism and the impact that Europeans had on this continent. The authors have appreciated the impact of European people on the environment of South America. Additionally, certain stereotypes regarding the European colonialism has been corrected as well. Hence, the holistic approach of the researchers is worthy of appreciation.  During the colonial period, global economic linkages, migrations and cultural hybridities occurred as well. It has changed the entire social structure of the colonized state or country. The impact has been both positive and negative. On the positive side, education and infrastructural changes have given new heights. However, this one-way control by “invaders” has also deteriorated the existing environment of the colonized state.

Views on imperialism and colonialism

As per Stuchtey (2017), the history of expansion that started in 1450 and ended till 1950 and it has become an integral part of Europe. During the historical process, countries such as England and Spain were active participants; however, a country like Germany has also participated in the colonial expansion process. This, in turn, has completely shaped our world history. One noteworthy point is that colonialism shaped the colonized country along with the country that imposed their colonial power such as England or Spain. The colonial power has been consistently regarded as the “alien” power that has imposed control over a less powerful country. The will to enlarge or expand one’s territory has been dominant thought in some countries. Therefore, colonialism or imperialism is a form of expression. Both the practices have been subjected to criticism. Researchers blamed colonialism because it resulted in excessive mismanagement, genocide and corruption. However, colonialism has also resulted in the intellectual transfer. It is often linked with the Age of Enlightenment. On the one hand, it was evident that the British managed to monopolize the slave trade and converted it into one of the exceedingly lucrative business options. On the other hand, Spain failed to drive profit or economic development by using Latin America.

Impact of European settlement on the economy

According to Easterly, W., & Levine (2016), European settlement has a major impact on the development of the economy. It has entirely shaped the cultural, technological, institutional as well as the educational outcomes of a nation. The economic development in the modern world is due to the contribution of European settlement. In this paper, the author has explored the positive impact of European minority population on the per capita income of the settled territory. Since the era of colonization, former colonies including Ethiopia, Tanzania, Congo and Malawi have experienced economic development in a little way. For instance, research suggests that the GDP is these nations have become $2 per day. Interestingly, colonization has benefitted former colonies such as the United States, Australia and Canada as the GDP levels has increased to $20,000 per annum. However, the gap in the literature is evident in this paper. There is no direct measure regarding the European settlement, and the level of economic impact is not clearly defined. The paper highlights that Europeans were unable to find a suitable environment; they refrained from settling in those colonies. However, a minority of European population settled in the regional states and exploited natural resources by creating authoritarian political institutions.

Conclusion

The concept of imperialism and the practice of colonialism have been explored here. It can be concluded that both these phenomenon has a significant impact on the society. It has established new societies on one hand and exploited the existing ones in order to increase the profitability their profitability. The existing research on European colonialism, imperialism and economic development has widened the existing perspective on these concepts and practices. Both the negative and positive impact has been outlined in this review. The research has widened the knowledge regarding the practical applications of colonialism and imperialism. It has shaped the world history and has revolutionized the way in which trade is conducted across societies. The colonizers have been greatly benefitted as they have continued to expand their industrial capabilities. Economic as well as political power has been established over the small territories, and this territorial acquisition has been beneficial for few formerly colonized nations.

References

Easterly, W., & Levine, R. (2016). The European origins of economic development. Journal of Economic Growth, 21(3), 225-257.

Knapp, G. (2007). The legacy of European colonialism. The physical geography of South America, 7, 279.

Stuchtey, B. (2017). Colonialism and imperialism, 1450–1950. Notes, 2, 6.