European Colonial Imperialism and Totalitarianism

European Colonial Imperialism

Demographic and Social: European population growth stimulated unemployment and emigration to the colonies.

Political: Due to strained international relations, European governments controlled strategic points to increase their strength.

Scientists: A desire to explore new territory.

Cultural: The belief that the white race was superior led to advances made to transmit European culture and Christianity.

Metropolis = The ruling power beyond its borders.

Colonies = Territories politically and economically dependent on a metropolis.

The Colonial Empires

The United Kingdom and France were the major colonial powers:

• UK: In the early twentieth century, it was the world's leading maritime power, and its empire was the largest in the world.
• France: The second-largest colonial empire, with major holdings in Asia and Africa.

Other colonial powers included:

• Italy (Libya)
• Germany (South-West Africa)
• Portugal (Angola and Mozambique)
• Spain (Northern Sahara)

Consequences of Colonial Imperialism

Economics: They exploited the natural and human wealth of the colonies.

Demographic and Social:

• Increase in population in the colonies due to European immigration.
• Decline of indigenous mortality through improved hygiene.
• Racial segregation, dominance of the white population.

Policy: Countries used the colonies to settle their rivalry.

Cultural: Western culture was imposed on the indigenous culture, changing beliefs, and traditions.

The Rise of Totalitarianism

Causes

• The difficult recovery after a terrible war.
• Concern about the possibility of a workers' revolution similar to that which had triumphed in Russia.
• Fear of the economic crisis starting in 1929.

Fascist Totalitarianism

Fascist totalitarianism, particularly the Italian and German, achieved:

• The support of all social classes.
• Implemented a centralized totalitarian state.
• Opposition to liberal democracy.
• Rejection of socialism, communism, and the labor movement.
• Handling the masses (cultural control).

Methods of Action

• Worship of a charismatic leader.
• Social-class hierarchy.
• Exaltation of militarism.
• Resorting to war and revenge as justification.
• Extreme nationalism that leads to racism.

Italian Fascism

It was characterized by:

• Domestic Politics: Mussolini gained absolute power, formed the Fascist Grand Council, and replaced Parliament.
• Foreign Policy: An ultranationalist ideology with aggressive action against perceived enemies.
• Economics: An autocratic and interventionist system by the state:
  • Private companies were controlled by the state.
  • The mines and the arms industry and shipbuilding became state-owned.
  • Corporatism was encouraged, and labor rights were terminated.

Nazi Totalitarianism

Because Germany's economic crisis entered a political crisis. In 1933, the National Socialist leader Adolf Hitler won the elections, imposed a dictatorship, and founded the German Third Reich.

The regime was characterized by:

• Domestic Policy: Control of the Nazi Party, with the creation of the political police (Gestapo).
• Foreign Policy: Focused on denouncing the Treaty of Versailles.
• Economic Policy: Focused on self-sufficiency and public works investments.
• Society: They fostered a birth policy to increase the pool of soldiers.

The military buildup and its exit from the economic crisis drove it to produce a war.