Imperialism is the state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion through direct territorial acquisition or gaining political and economic control of other territories and its peoples. In contrast to mere dominance, imperialism includes making, shaping, determining, and maintaining order which the imperial power guarantees. Despite, the decolonisation of colonial territories after the Second World War, the impacts of imperialism can still be seen in the material world and world of ideas. In this essay, I will argue that imperialism still has relevance to international politics in the 21st century using examples from the material world and world of ideas as well as ideas from readings and news articles.
Firstly, the empire-building and resource-driven exploitation of states and their populations continue to influence today’s world. The world of ideas has been significantly influenced through former colonial powers and hegemons such as the United States, for instance, the western powers legitimise their colonial behaviour by framing Africa as uncivilised, undeveloped, and backwards. In doing so, former colonial powers legitimise their actions in their former colonies. However, Kwame Nkrumah argued that western powers still to keep their influence in African countries, even though these countries are decolonised and fully independent. Despite this, Nkrumah described how western powers still try to control African countries, through economic and monetary policies (Young, 2016). This can be seen in international politics as the International Criminal Court (ICC) has only indicted and convicted Africans, hence helping to reinforce the neo-colonial stereotype that Africa cannot deliver justice itself. Moreover, this also shows how Western nations still tend to get involved in African politics and economics because they want to advocate their global agenda. In addition, Edward Said describes how the West compares itself with the non-West or the ‘orient’, and highlights how the West creates a false, incomplete and unrealistic image of the non-West. Furthermore, Said argues that Western conceptions of identity, culture and civilisation in the non-West are based on these false conceptions (Said, 1978), this is evident as the media also portrays non-Western states as underdeveloped in contrast to Western states. In addition, portray other cultures and religions such as Islam to be ‘backwards’ and ‘violent’. Therefore, imperialism still has relevance to international politics in the 21st century because the ideas that stemmed from colonisation and imperialism have continued to influence the world of ideas and intergovernmental organisations (IGO’s) such as the ICC.
Similarly, in former colonial territories such as Hong Kong, ideas inherited from imperial rule have highlighted how imperialism still has relevance to international politics in the 21st century. This is because Hong Kong’s social and administrative structure established during British colonial rule clashes with Chinese Communism and has created a postcolonial struggle. However, the Umbrella Movement in 2013 had highlighted Hong Kong’s political subjectivity in resisting colonial rule; furthermore, the nationalist movement is seen as a revolt against the Communist party’s intensifying attempt to interfere with Hong Kong’s affairs and erosion of Hong Kong’s lifestyle. Despite this, since the Umbrella Movement in 2013, democracy as a form of Chinese nationalism has become increasingly unfavourable (Rutazibwa, et al., 2018). As a result, it can be argued that imperialism does not have relevance in international politics in the 21st century because China is erasing Hong Kong’s former colonial identity. Still, despite decreasing support for democracy, the population of Hong Kong largely identify as ‘Hong Konger’ instead of Chinese. Also, the popular pro-democracy protests have also drawn scrutiny from the British and American government to the Mainland Chinese authority. Hence, imperialism does have relevance to international politics in the 21st century because there are still demonstrations between pro-democracy protestors and Chinese governmental forces.
On the other hand, imperialism has also affected the material world as emerging powers such as China use soft power to spread their national interest; furthermore, China uses economic investment and loans to control resources, people, and potential around the world. For instance, China gives loans to developing countries for infrastructure, which they cannot payback. China gives large loans to developing countries which they are unable to pay back because they are then able to control it for a lease of a specific time. For example, in 2017, China took control of a Sri Lankan port that they could not pay for (Abi-Habib, 2018). Furthermore, according to Chinese government figures, Chinese foreign direct investment in Africa rose from $74 million in 2005 to $5.5 billion in 2009. The scale of investment has made Africa increasingly dependent on Chinese investment for infrastructure projects. It can be argued that Chinese is beneficial for Africa because it helps lift people out of extreme poverty by creating jobs. However, Chinese investment also puts African countries in more debt than they can pay back, furthermore, when these countries cannot pay back their loans, China is able to take control of its assets. Kwame Nkrumah had argued in 1965 that Western states tended to intervene in African economics to increase their national interests. However, it can also be argued that China is using foreign investment as a way to increase its national interest. Therefore, this shows how imperialism still has relevance to international politics in the 21st century because the Chinese government uses soft power to extend economic control of other territories and its national interest.
Finally, the United States and other Western states use IGO’s such as the United Nations (UN) to get involved in the non-West’s politics because states have created IGO’s to serve national interests, this is most clearly seen in the veto powers which the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members wield. For instance, the US uses its veto power to increase its national interest. Since the Cold War, the US have continuously fought conflicts and proxy wars to spread its national interest. Moreover, this can be seen as US imperialism as it is being done to shape, determine and maintain power which the imperial power guarantees. A recent example of US imperialism in the 21st century can be seen from the Iraq War 2003. This shows how imperialism has relevance to international politics in the 21st century because the US went to war with Iraq in their state interest because they believed that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. However, in the process of overthrowing Saddam, the US and its allies had killed between 97,461 and 106,348 civilians (BBC News Staff, 2011). In addition, Edward Said’s argument that the West has created a narrative that the non-West is ‘barbaric’ and ‘backwards’ is evident because the casualties of the Iraq War have been deemed less worthy than the life of a Western citizen. Therefore, imperialism still has relevance in international politics in the 21st century as is evident in the material world and world of ideas as they use their national interest to shape, determine and maintain order.
In conclusion, I believe that imperialism does have relevance in international politics in the 21st century; this is because the material world and world of ideas both have a significant influence from imperialism and colonisation. For instance, the ICC has been created by western states and serves western interests. Likewise, they use the ICC to show that non-Western states are underdeveloped and not as civilised in contrast to Western states, hence, to spread false Western conception of the non-West (Said, 1978). Therefore, it allows western states to get involved in African politics and help reinforce the neo-colonial stereotype that Africa cannot deliver justice itself (Young, 2016). Furthermore, in Hong Kong the effects of imperialism are evident, with pro-democracy protestors and the Mainland Chinese communist government clashing, as well as bringing scrutiny from Western states against the Chinese government, hence showing how imperialism has relevance in international politics in the 21st century. In addition, Chinese foreign investment highlights how the Chinese government uses foreign investment to increase its national interest and economic control in overseas territories. Finally, the use of IGO’s, such as the UN by western states shows how imperialism still has relevance in international politics in the 21st century because they use their use powers to increase their state interest. Similarly, they use IGO’s to shape, determine, and maintain order amongst other territories and its populations.
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