When it comes to beginning to define the term imperialism, it is important that, in the first place, we undertake the establishment of its etymological origin because it will give us the keys to its meaning. In this way we can establish that this origin is in Latin and is the result of the union of three clearly differentiated elements: the prefix in which can be translated as "inward", the verb I'll stop which means "order", and finally the suffix -ism which amounts to "doctrine."
Imperialism is a doctrine , conduct , trend or system of those regimes that they want expand your domain towards another or other territories through force (both military and political or economic).
A State imperialist therefore you want to impose on others countries and exercise control. Is about nations that they have great strength and that they do not hesitate to use it, either directly or indirectly, on the weakest.
The modern notion of imperialism arose from XIX century to name the process of economic growth carried out by the European powers. These countries began to conquer lands and create colonies on various continents with the intention of accessing raw materials and finding new ones. markets For your products.
As we say, the search by the different powers of raw materials to continue their growth in the full phase of the Industrial Revolution seems to be, according to historians, that was the main reason that gave rise to this phenomenon of Imperialism. Among the countries that most exercised the same, Britain stands out, which stood at the head of it and managed to have both colonies and annex territories in places like Asia or Africa.
Late XIX century , the concept began to be used to refer to the economic domain that the powerful exercise over the poorest countries. This imperialism, in general, does not require the use of military force, but is exercised through political and economic pressures. For example: a power commits to lend money to a peripheral country as long as it dictates laws favorable to its companies.
Imperialism tries to justify itself by various causes: from demographic (the intention of increasing the surface of the nation) until economic (to meet their own needs), happening for reasons of the science (as the desire to investigate in other territories).
And all of them without forgetting that there are other causes of great importance such as technical-political and strategic ones. That is, imperialism also developed and extended because the rulers need new territories to forget the loss of others, to have strategic points in their trade routes and also to possess enclaves that would help them develop an important defense from a point of military sight
Among the most important consequences of the phenomenon at hand, we must highlight the loss of traditional cultural values, a process of proletarianization in the society of conquered territories or the destruction of natural ecosystems.
American imperialism under the mandate of George W. Bush For example, he tried to justify himself with political (improve security) and religious (face the Axis of evil ).