The Influence of Imperialism on Racism

What is racism? Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to categorize it as inferior or superior to another race or races. Racism has changed a lot over the last century.

Although relationships between imperialism, nationalism, and racism have contributed to changes in racism in both Europe and North America from the 1750s to present day, there are several areas in which they have stayed the same.

What were some of the political, economic, social, intellectual, and military factors that explained the sudden increase in the pace and importance of European imperialism in the late 19c? The essential impetus was the Industrial Revolution which led to a search for (and control of) sources of raw materials and captive markets to sell manufactured goods, and become a world power with the most colonies and most money.

Industrial imperialism (a product of the industrial revolution) ,began in roughly 1880. During this time, people (predominantly europeans) began searching for land to colonize. Imperialism could also be tied to racism, with europeans believing that they were above everyone, and that they therefore, needed more land. These racist beliefs were often connected to social darwinism. This belief could be summed up with “Survival of the Fittest”, with the europeans believing that they were the “fittest”. Europeans also would believe that they had a different bone structure than people of color; more specifically, they would illustrate cartoons that compared african americans to themselves, giving the other a smaller brain.

Imperialism has been one of the most powerful forces in human history, serving to set the foundation of our modern world. While this has led to the formation of a global society where cultures, ideas, and innovations are spread across countries, imperialism has also left a history of exploitation, racism, and violence that is still affecting the world today. Imperial relationships are always imbalanced when it comes to power and influence; that is, one group (known as the metropole) maintains authority and control over another group (known as the periphery) with economic, political, and cultural dominance (Spiegel 2012). There are many reasons why one group chooses to dominate the other, such as expanding territory, extracting raw resources to fuel economic development, or to spread their beliefs (i.e. religion) (Spiegel 2012). In spite of these varied reasons, one of the main motivators for imperialism began with competition between empires.

The driving force behind European Imperialism was national competition because it is the cause of all of the other driving reasons. As a result of national competition, it creates an arms race, it also requires the countries to have more money and resources, and the people believe their country should be better than the next. Technology may had an incredible effect on the Africans, however, the reason the European countries had that technology is because they always want to beat the other country. Moreover, you cannot have more power and technology if you do not have the money or resources to make or buy the supplies. Lastly, this competition can lead to national pride and more nationalists that push the government to more imperialism and colonization.

During the interwar period, Turkey and India were breeding grounds for nationalism. Nationalism - a shared group feeling linked by a geographical (sometimes demographical) region seeking independence - is a threat to imperialism, the exploitation of land and resources of a conquered nation. By comparing and contrasting their effects we are able to shape our understanding of strained relationships, political and social reform.

From: Romesh Dutt, The Economic History of India Under Early British Rule Englishmen…have given the people of India the greatest human blessing – peace. They have introduced Western education. This has brought an ancient and civilized nation in touch with modern thought, modern sciences and modern life. They have built an administration that is strong and efficient. They have framed wise laws and have established courts of justice.

Imperialism was the start of decolonization, it is the rapid expansion of territory. Decolonization affected different countries in different ways. Some were forced to become independent and some independence came peacefully. Economics, political, and ideological are three major components of imperialism. After world war two the European powers attempted to restart their empire across Asia and Africa. Despite the Pan Africanist that are located outside of the united states they draw in many of their ideas from African Americans. Pan-Africanism is a movement that can change between the focus of politics, ideology, organizations, or culture. Pan-Africanism mainly

U.S imperialism was both like and unlike the imperialism practiced by European powers. The assertion that U.S. imperialism was unlike any other is because of the way that citizens viewed themselves. While native European citizens supported imperialism because of resources and wealth which their colonies provided, they mainly supported the expansion of their empires because they thought they were “helping” the supposed inferior races by colonizing. Race played a very large and important role in the rise of overseas European empires and while they acknowledge this fact, the U.S., on the other hand, had a different reason.

In the late 1800s to the early 1900s, the Government of European countries quests to acquire colonies resulted in the brutal treatment of nonwhite native people. Many Europeans of the time believe that they were superior humans and this played a major role in the rationale for Imperialism. There were a few Critics that stood out among the rest and ultimately became a thorn in the side of Imperialism. Imperialism was bad for most of the humans on the African continent.

     Throughout American History the U.S. has sought to expand its boundaries. This need increased greatly during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century with the start of the industrial revolution. This Expansion was a big departure from earlier attempts to expand the boundaries of the U.S. The needed for Natural resources forced the U.S to look for places that could supply them with the natural resources they needed and markets where they could sell their goods in. The need to imperialize caused the U.S. to look to foreign places to gain resources to better the nations industries.

Historically, United States battle against racism has come a long way from the days of colonialism, slavery, racial hierarchies, racial demarcated reserves, strict policies and segregation. And yet, discrimination and inequality continue to persist in our society. Howard Winant, an American sociologist and race theorist, stated that, “the meaning of racism has changed over time. The attitudes, practices and institutions of epochs of colonialism, segregation… may not have been entirely eliminated, but neither do they operate today in the same ways they did half a century ago (Winant 128).” The meaning and how racism operates may have changed over time but its negative connotations and implications in society continue to limit the individual’s understanding, explore and accept the complexity of each individual. Presently, racism appears less blatant and may appear “more acceptable,” but its existence and effect is undeniable. As a result, it continues to destroy society’s cohesion and ideas for equality. Racism is the ideology that devalues and renders other racial and ethnic group as inferior and it is reflected through the individual’s interaction, expression and attitudes towards others (Racism No Way). It is deeply rooted from historical, social, cultural and power inequalities. Racism has indeed shifted its course from previously stricter policies and practices of racism to individuals who promote multiculturalism, equality

Although there are many other important factors, the main cause of the rise of imperialism was most certainly economic. The Age of Empire, by Eric J. Hobsbawn, provides an interpretation of New Imperialism. Hobsbawn calls imperialism “a natural by-product of the international economy” (Sherman pg 177). He is basically saying that imperialism is dependent on the rivalries of competing industries, which continually drive the international economy. Hobsbawn also dictates the need for external markets. The Industrial Revolution created many products that needed markets, thus creating a need of colonies. Hobsbawn believed that the overproduction of the Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression could be solved. He also realized that

'Racism', in the Oxford English Dictionary, is defined as "Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior", and, "The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races". The essence of both definitions seems to be that specific characteristics are used to segregate people into different levels of superiority. While the truth behind this grouping and subsequent segregation is arguable, it is generally accepted that doing this is wrong. The first thing that tends to come