The Economic and Ideological Roots of Imperialism

The Economic Foundations of Imperialism

By 1890, it was clear that the trajectory of Europe could not continue for two primary reasons. First, it could not improve the supply of products because raw materials and labor were not sufficient to produce quality goods at cheaper prices. Second, demand could not be improved since the population of Europe could not grow further or become significantly wealthier.

Consequently, rich bourgeois parliaments began to pressure their countries to develop imperialism. This system consisted of a wealthy country, known as the metropolis, occupying one or more poor countries, known as colonies.

The Colonial Economic Cycle

The population of the colony provided cheap labor for the metropolis. Furthermore, the colony was forced to sell its raw materials to the metropolis. The colonial population then had to purchase manufactured goods from the metropolis, which were made from their own cheap raw materials. This cycle left the colonies economically broken. The causes of imperialism were varied and complex.

Key Causes of Imperialism

Political and Ideological Reasons

In the late nineteenth century, nationalist ideology gained significant importance. Nations began to speak of superiority, influenced by the impact of Darwinian evolution in both science and politics. It was scientifically argued that strong nations triumphed in history. This led to a reality where power was demonstrated through force; the more colonies a country occupied, the stronger it was perceived to be.

Scientific and Religious Motivations

Many states conquered other territories under the guise of "civilizing" what they considered "barbarian" or lower cultures. Scientific interests also played a role, as expeditions sought to describe new plants and insects for experiments. Finally, religious groups defended the need to bring the message of Jesus Christ to people who did not know God.

Demographic Pressures

European countries experienced strong population growth. Governments justified conquests by claiming they were necessary for their surplus population to relocate. This created the equation: more population = more need to conquer. However, this was often untrue; for example, Ireland grew demographically but did not conquer territory, while England grew less but conquered vast areas.

Economic Expansion

The need for cheap labor, raw materials, and larger markets drove European countries toward imperialist policies. Beyond the justifications used to excuse imperialism, the countries that benefited most from these practices were the USA and England.