Connect a current event to a historical event you have studied (2/5)
Connect a current event to a historical event you have studied
The New Imperialism—The Western Involvement of Middle East and Crimea
The New Imperialism has quite some similarities with the Western involvement in the Middle East and Crimea, as both events involve imperialism through different methods and mandate across different time periods but for the same purposes: to expand Western influence across the globe, or project their power. Yet the different time periods has changed the method of imperialism by a significant amount, as only indirect imperialism are available while the rise of Eastern powers made dominance harder. The following paragraphs will outline the two different ages of imperialism and compare them.
The New Imperialism begun in the 1800s, when the Western power begun to dominate the world through colonization, the establishment of protectorate, or other indirect methods of imperialism. There were economic, political, and cultural causes for the New Imperialism. The economic cause were the need for a stable source of raw materials and market for manufactured products. On the other hand, the political causes of such dominance were the competition between different European states and the tool imperialism serves to facilitate nationalism. Last, the cultural causes were the desire of sharing Western advances and missionaries’ goals of spreading Christianity. Nevertheless, the New Imperialism could never have bene viable without the Industrial Revolution that allowed for the advances in Western technology that allowed Western military superiority to easily conquer foreign territories. During the New Imperialism, old empires of Mughal India, Qing China, and Ottoman Turkey were controlled by the Imperial states who established spheres of influence or even colonies. Meanwhile, colonies were established in Africa and East Asia, while economic dominance of Latin America by the United States and Britain is another indirect form of imperialism.
Meanwhile, today’s imperialism encircles economic and military aid. These aid are made possible by economic and military advancement in states looking for power projection, which not just include the West, but also China and many more. Aid include providing financial support, investment, weapons, military equipments, or even troops. For example, the West has been trying to undermine Bashaar al-Assad, the Syrian president, by supporting the rebels. This is an example Western Imperialism because if successful, the West could control the new Syrian government unlike their inability to influence Bashaar al-Assad. Another instance is when the West strongly condemned Russia’s annexation of Crimea; this is an example competition among states for influence over areas. Moreover, the NATO’s deployment and support of ISAF in Afghanistan and US invasion of Iraq are other examples of military “aid,” which are made for each states to expand their influence over the country. In Iraq, the American invasion helped allow Western dominance as the government today allow Western influence. In Afghanistan, NATO’s lead against insurgency help put the West in control of Afghanistan. On the contrary, economic support are prevalent in today’s imperialism, as China, US, and many other wealthy countries today invest heavily in less economically developed states or provide financial assistance to infrastructural projects.
In comparison, the New Imperialism and today’s imperialism are different drastically. In terms of similarity, both eras of imperialism involved military and economic reliance to control weaker states. But there are many differences. First, the New Imperialism involved colonization and direct imperialism, while today’s imperialism are limited to only indirect economic, political, or cultural influences. Second, the New Imperialism were based heavily on the Industrial Revolution and Western benefits, while today’s imperialism are based on investment and capitals. Third, the New Imperialism involved little humaneness and much military conflicts, while today’s imperialism had less direct inhumane-ness and military conflict. Hence, the two eras of imperialism could be similar in its central ideals, but different in their implementation.
The New Imperialism—The Western Involvement of Middle East and Crimea
The New Imperialism has quite some similarities with the Western involvement in the Middle East and Crimea, as both events involve imperialism through different methods and mandate across different time periods but for the same purposes: to expand Western influence across the globe, or project their power. Yet the different time periods has changed the method of imperialism by a significant amount, as only indirect imperialism are available while the rise of Eastern powers made dominance harder. The following paragraphs will outline the two different ages of imperialism and compare them.
The New Imperialism begun in the 1800s, when the Western power begun to dominate the world through colonization, the establishment of protectorate, or other indirect methods of imperialism. There were economic, political, and cultural causes for the New Imperialism. The economic cause were the need for a stable source of raw materials and market for manufactured products. On the other hand, the political causes of such dominance were the competition between different European states and the tool imperialism serves to facilitate nationalism. Last, the cultural causes were the desire of sharing Western advances and missionaries’ goals of spreading Christianity. Nevertheless, the New Imperialism could never have bene viable without the Industrial Revolution that allowed for the advances in Western technology that allowed Western military superiority to easily conquer foreign territories. During the New Imperialism, old empires of Mughal India, Qing China, and Ottoman Turkey were controlled by the Imperial states who established spheres of influence or even colonies. Meanwhile, colonies were established in Africa and East Asia, while economic dominance of Latin America by the United States and Britain is another indirect form of imperialism.
Meanwhile, today’s imperialism encircles economic and military aid. These aid are made possible by economic and military advancement in states looking for power projection, which not just include the West, but also China and many more. Aid include providing financial support, investment, weapons, military equipments, or even troops. For example, the West has been trying to undermine Bashaar al-Assad, the Syrian president, by supporting the rebels. This is an example Western Imperialism because if successful, the West could control the new Syrian government unlike their inability to influence Bashaar al-Assad. Another instance is when the West strongly condemned Russia’s annexation of Crimea; this is an example competition among states for influence over areas. Moreover, the NATO’s deployment and support of ISAF in Afghanistan and US invasion of Iraq are other examples of military “aid,” which are made for each states to expand their influence over the country. In Iraq, the American invasion helped allow Western dominance as the government today allow Western influence. In Afghanistan, NATO’s lead against insurgency help put the West in control of Afghanistan. On the contrary, economic support are prevalent in today’s imperialism, as China, US, and many other wealthy countries today invest heavily in less economically developed states or provide financial assistance to infrastructural projects.
In comparison, the New Imperialism and today’s imperialism are different drastically. In terms of similarity, both eras of imperialism involved military and economic reliance to control weaker states. But there are many differences. First, the New Imperialism involved colonization and direct imperialism, while today’s imperialism are limited to only indirect economic, political, or cultural influences. Second, the New Imperialism were based heavily on the Industrial Revolution and Western benefits, while today’s imperialism are based on investment and capitals. Third, the New Imperialism involved little humaneness and much military conflicts, while today’s imperialism had less direct inhumane-ness and military conflict. Hence, the two eras of imperialism could be similar in its central ideals, but different in their implementation.