Causes of 19th Century Imperialism: Economic, Political and Ideological Drivers

Causes of Imperialism

The advance of industrialization in the nineteenth century and the technological development of Europe, precipitated by the Second Industrial Revolution, led to a global fragmentation: industrialized countries versus non-industrialized countries. Industrialized nations imposed their will on non-industrialized regions, which fell under the direct or indirect influence of Europe.

Europe boosted its economic model and cultural ideals globally, driven by demographic vitality, commercial and technical superiority, and financial strength. Between 1873 and 1890, an economic crisis developed, starting in the agricultural sector of industrialized Europe, which soon evolved into a crisis of overproduction across all sectors. The industrial world emerged from this crisis by renewing production structures and implementing protectionist policies, forcing nations to seek new markets and resources elsewhere, specifically in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Economic Drivers

Economic explanations link the spread of imperialism to the contemporary needs of industries in developed countries. In the last third of the nineteenth century, Europeans sought economic spaces to achieve the following objectives:

• Export Markets: Establishing outlets for industrial products.
• Raw Materials: Securing energy and raw materials at low costs.
• Labor: Utilizing unskilled labor with low wages to reduce production costs.

In territories where European settlers were installed, infrastructure such as railways and ports was built to facilitate the entry and exit of products.

Political Motivations

Nations sought to increase their political power at an international level through colonial hegemony. They hurried to control military and commercial maritime and land routes to hinder the expansion of competitors and increase their influence in the international diplomatic context. European political leaders considered colonies a strategic factor to increase military power worldwide.

Ideological Factors

In the nineteenth century, scientific interest drove Europeans to explore unknown areas of the world. Scientific societies were formed, and geographical and anthropological expeditions were organized in Africa and Asia, carried out by journalists, missionaries, and adventurers. These expeditions opened new routes later used by settlers for economic or military purposes.

Racist ideologies defended the superiority of the white race, fueling the nationalist fervor of great colonial states (chauvinism and jingoism). These states asserted their superiority and believed it was their duty to spread European culture, religion, and civilization. Paternalistic colonialism, often disguised as the "White Man's Burden," argued that it was the duty of the white man to civilize people considered inferior through education and instruction. Furthermore, the church's missionary activity was emphasized, as there was a perceived need to evangelize peoples considered primitive.