Information AboutNeocolonialism |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT NEOCOLONIALISM | |
| colonialism | |
| history of colonialism | |
| neocolonialismcolonialism | |
| history of colonialism | |
| neocolonialism | |
| colonialism | |
| 20th century | |
| postcolonialism | |
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Neocolonialism is a term used by some intellectuals to describe of the 16th to the 20th centuries. ECONOMIC CONTROL The contention is that governments have aimed to control other nations through indirect means. In lieu of direct Military - Political control, neocolonialist powers employ economic, financial, and trade policies to dominate less powerful countries. Those who subscribe to the concept maintain this amounts to a '' De Facto '' control over targeted nations (''see Immanuel Wallerstein 's World Systems Theory ''). Both previous colonizing states and other powerful economic states maintain a continuing presence in the economies of former colonies, especially where it concerns Raw Material s. After a hastened Decolonization process of the Belgian Congo , Belgium continued to control, through The Société Générale De Belgique , of roughly 70% of the Congolese economy following the decolonization process. The most contested part was in the province of Katanga where the Union Minière Du Haut Katanga , part of the Société, had control over the mineral and resource rich province. After a failed attempt to Nationalize the mining industry in the 1960s , it was reopened to foreign investment. Critics of neocolonialism portray the choice to grant or to refuse granting loans (particularly those financing otherwise unpayable Third World Debt ), especially by international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank (WB), as a decisive form of control. They argue that in order to qualify for these loans, and other forms of economic aid, weaker nations are forced to take certain steps favorable to the financial interests of the IMF and World Bank but detrimental to their own economies. These ''structural adjustments'' have the effect of increasing rather than alleviating poverty within the nation. Some critics emphasize that neocolonialism allows certain cartels of State s, such as the World Bank, to control and exploit usually lesser developed countries (LDCs) by fostering debt. In effect, Third World governments give concessions and Monopolies to foreign Corporation s in return for consolidation of power and monetary bribes. In most cases, much of the money loaned to these LDCs is returned to the favored foreign corporations. Thus, these foreign loans are in effect subsidies to corporations of the loaning state's. This collusion is sometimes referred to as the ''corporatocracy''. Organizations accused of participating in neo-imperialism include the World Bank , World Trade Organization and Group Of Eight , and the World Economic Forum . Various " First World " states, notably the United States , are said to be involved, as described in Confessions Of An Economic Hitman by John Perkins. Critics of neocolonialism also attempt to demonstrate that investment by Multinational Corporation s enriches few in underdeveloped countries, and causes Humanitarian , and Environmental and Ecological devastation to the populations which inhabit the ''neocolonies''. This, it is argued, results in Unsustainable Development and perpetual underdevelopment; a Dependency which cultivates those countries as reservoirs of cheap labor and raw materials, while restricting their access to advanced production techniques to develop their own economies. By contrast, proponents of neocolonialism argue that, while the First World does profit from cheap labor and raw materials in Underdeveloped Nations , ultimately, it does serve as a positive Modernizing force for development in the Third World . SEE ALSO
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