Chapters 12/13: Colonialism

Colonialism was huge force from the 15th to 20th century. It was a common motive for expansion used by the Europeans. They jusified their motives for expansion by wanting to bring the natives in Africa and whereever else they ventured into the light. To the ethnocentric Europeans, anyone that did not believe in their God was said by them to be in the darkness. The Europeans would take over their country and bring them into the light, and make them believe in their God. They would send the natives all over the world to work for monoculutural plantations which were agricultural plantations the specialized, "in the large-scale production of a single crop to be sold on the market," (285). Throughout the centuries colonialism was repressed immensely, but was replaced by other tactics that are used by the "global market economy".

In the postcolonial era it was blatent that, "all peoples were affected by Western expansion and their cultures altered by," (299) colonialism. Many countries gained their independence, but when this occured all the help that was given by the powerful countries was gone. This left the smaller and weaker countries to fend for themselves.

When the powerful countries saw the third world countries suffer they believed that they needed to take initiative and change them. In hopes to make the countries weathly the powerful countries practiced the modernization theory. This theory thought that, "some nations are poor because of their traditional cultures, " (309) and by practicing the ways of the wealthy countries they would become just as wealthy. The modernization theory was one of the tactics used that replacted colonialism.

Between colonialism and the "global market economy" there are similarities between the two and there are also differences. A modern day example that would demonstrate how colonialism and the "global market economy" are alike could be how a multinational corporation works. A multinational corporation, "owns business enterprises in more than one nation," (371). They are very powerful businesses that are known globally. Let's say the MNC is a European country and the small local business is the undeveloped country. The MNC sees that it could make a positive change for society if it was in the impoverished community. When the MNC is put in the country the local business realizes that it can not compete with such a force and goes out of business and the people that worked for the local business end up working in the horrible sweatshop conditions in the MNC. Just like the smaller country gives into the bigger country and ends up doing all the dirty work for them.

A difference in colonialism and the growning "global market economy" would the technological differences. During the colonial era information took weeks or months to get where it needed to go. By ship things took awhile to get to the destination and hand written letters took a lot longer to write then Skyping someone or texting them. The undeveloped countries did not have the guns to rebel against the European forces. The majority of the countries had to give in, and be sent places to work. The current technological advances that have taken over globally is bringing people together, but is also creating issues. Many people wish to go back to their traditional ways, but other countries welcome the new technology. When people resist change violence occurs, which would ultimately have been put down quickly in the colonial era because the Europeans were the only ones who had weapondry. Now undeveloped countries are very violent with terroist attacks and suicide bombings, all of them trying to make a point.

There are other things that affect our "global market economy". There is over population, pollution, and violence. We just need to respect countries wishes, if they do not want change do not change anything.