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20th Century Imperialism : A Civilizing Mission

Decent Essays

The 19th and 20th century imperialism was substantially about the exploitation of the empires colonies and thus was not a necessarily an ‘civilizing mission’. During the 19th and 20th century European powers tried to justify their actions, by claiming that they were trying to re-educate the native population through education, this included Christian missionaries which were placed throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, it became apparent that these powers gained significant wealth by commercializing items that could not be obtained otherwise. A key example of this includes the Belgium Congo whereby Leopold II gained significant wealth through rubber plantations. To a certain extend it was a ‘’civilizing mission’’, however it is clear that the Europeans exploited these regions for economic gain.
Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means. However, a renowned historian Kenneth Pomeranz has described it as a ‘’frustratingly vague term’’, as it can be defined broadly or narrowly. According to Michael Doyle it can be defined as ‘’effective control, whether formal and informal, of a subordinated society by an imperial society’’.
During the 19th and 20th century European nations tried to justify their actions by claiming it to be a ‘’civilizing mission’. Indeed, the Victorians argued that they were bringing light to what they called the dark continent that being Africa. King

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