An essential concept for understanding the 20th and 21st century is Colonialism. Colonialism is the process of acquiring political control over another country, pushing cultural norms on the native population, filling it with settlers as well as utilizing the economic resources it may offer. Key aspects of colonialism include the propagation of racial hierarchies, exploitation of the native population through slavery or indentured servitude and major cultural shifts within the country under control. The significance of colonialism is that it has left a legacy of racism, ethnic devisions and untethered economies in the countries it has directly effected across the world. But at the same time it has been a contributing factor to the development of globalization, development of countries and trade as well as the creation of formal diplomatic boundaries still recognized to this day in some cases.
Essay Question: Which factor played a greater role in the development of nations, colonization or decolonization?
Answer: Colonization most likely did because it initiated the foundations for nationalism that would later become the conflicts that started decolonization, moreover the European countries that usually colonized less developed countries had offered those countries greater outlets for trading as well as communication. This connection of other countries had made the economies in the colonized countries grow at a accelerated pace. These factors overall helped the less developed countries engage in more globalization as well as develop their economies on a level that could survive against the massive powers of Europe during this time. De-colonization does not play as big of a role because the nationalism utilized was initially developed during the colonial period.
Emily Huwigt/ Paris Stirrat/ Alex Pollitt/ Eric Wasserzug/ Kamron Knowlton