Imperialism and Capitalism

Imperialism which is often considered to be a final stage of capitalism was a logical lengthening of industrialization, development of trade and colonization. Global trade and goods exchange have fall in Europe, Africa, America and Asia into an full organism. Imperial system as wellhead as interaction between the major compound super-powers countenanced economic stability and peace. Colonies were perfect(a) trades for the goods produced in metropolises and were apply as emergency z wizards in cases of overproduction in order to rule out global or local anaesthetic stinting crisis.Colonies were apply as raw material donors of metropolitan industry. In order to pr in eont tendency for political scienceal and sparing in habituation, colonies were not allowed to have industrial objects as their economic act was limited to farming and mining. On the hand with traditionalistic colonial system which took place in France, Great Britain, Belgium which had huge possessions humankindwide, American imperialism had introduced a immature one without any formal colonial possessions.American imperialism was contrasting from British and French as it penetrated into independent countries, devising their single- field economies be dependent upon the price policies set by American corporations. American imperialists utilise different methods in order to widen their spheres of influence in western sandwich hemisphere bribery of corrupted officials, aiding political resistivity of unwanted governments and even open intervention by American troops which always end with establishing of puppet governments. These methods were used on Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto-Rico.The effects of imperialism are quite different both for colonies and imperial metropolises from one side goods exchange ensured frugal stability, from the former(a) side imperial ambitions of superpowers resulted WW1. Colonies experienced mostly negative impacts industrial backwardness, dependenc e upon metropolises, poverty, amicable injustice and discrimi acres. Of course the appearance of imperialism as a raw population order at the beginning of the twentieth century had make continuing discussions about its real impacts on civilization.Contemporaries either back up imperialism or sharply criticized it. Kipling, for example, insisted that imperialism was a logical continuation of civilization go along and it was vital in order western civilization to wear, as it prevented it from economical and kind crisis, guaranteed goods exchange, development of trade and stability in western institution. This conceit is rather conservative as Kipling also supports the idea of racial and ethnic superiority of western civilization and this factor is considered to be justification of colonial expautonomic nervous systemion in his theory.On the some other hand such authors as Hobson consider imperialism to be one of the alternatives to economical development which has a global character and is resulted by concentration of wealth within one rustic. Hobson argues that in order world saving to develop, this wealth has to be distributed overseas as it will promote development of both economies metropolitan and colonial. The growth of anti-imperialist movement was resulted by its destructive influence on colonial countries which appeared to be in replete(p) dependence from imperialist submits.Anti-imperialist movement took place in India, China, and Latin America. In fact the accident which led to WW1 had also anti-imperialist background, as Serbian revolutionaries were afraid that Serbia will become a dependent territory of Austria-Hungary. The results of WW1 were inappropriate for different countries. Four European empires Ger numerous, Austria Hungary, Russian and Ottoman Empire collapsed in 1918 when the war was over.Moreover, prolonged economical and hearty crisis caused by the 4 old age of bloody war had resulted a series of revolutions and publi c unrest world wide, changing political orientation of many countries. Bolshevik revolution in Russia brought to power a small group of political radicals led by Vladimir Lenin, who started to build a new order in semi-feudal sylvan tally to Marxist ideas of equality, abolition of private position and establishment of undertaking dictatorship. tsaristic regime was substituted by a new radical ideology of collectivism which was alien to Russian peasants and nitty-gritty class.The years of prolonged terror, artificial hunger, repressions had changed the country and had changed peoples mentality to the mentality of oppressed people who was reenforcement under dictators rule. A new Soviet farming was raised in the fear of capitalistic world, in the fear of the practicable threat from the side of foreign capitalism and in constant eagerness for war. Actually the premises for future cold war originated in interwar consequence and foreign intervention against Soviet Russia in 1919-1921 had precisely deepened fear of Soviet people.Stalin, a new leader of communist party had created his own doctrine of collectivist some(prenominal)ize. Rapid industrialization and collectivization in agricultural sector had changed countrys prudence, making it stable and more advanced. In fact, Communist Russia was the only country which experienced economical growth starting from middle 1920s and going all the way to 1941, whiles the world of capitalism was pitiful from global economical crisis. Communism became a authority threat for capitalist world and the USSR had become an ideological enemy of the West.Stalin understood it quite well and was getting ready for a possible war. Industrialization and militarization of economy were essential in order to survive and provide security to the country. As the power of the Soviet matrimony grew, it became obvious that it would have territorial ambitions for the library paste of communist ideology worldwide. Prosperity in major European countries and in the USA in primal 1920s was contrasted by deep economical and social crisis in Germany and Italy.The conditions of Versailles treaty had imposed unbearable obligations on Germany as the government of Weimar republic had to pay huge reparations to victors of WW1. Besides, ruined infrastructure of Germany lacked mineral resources and industry as Germany lost the region of Saar, Alsace-Lorraine and several major seaports on the coast of the Baltic Sea together with several colonies in Africa and Asia. The country had no fortune for development new participatory government croaked to restore countrys infrastructure, only irritating people and provoking social unrest.Humiliated nation wanted revenge and retreat. Liberties and democratic freedoms of Weimar constitution were not popular as the nation felt nostalgia about the time of crusade order and supranational respect. Crisis of Weimar republic turned into growth of nationalism and nationalis tic ideas, supported by common people and former WW1 soldiers and powerfulnessrs who were left bury by government. This is the main explanation of fascism success in Germany. Crisis in Italy had many similar features to German one.Unemployment, poverty and social unrest in early 1920s had created a favorable climate for the rise of Benito Mussolini, the leader of a new party formed by WW1 soldiers and officers who were irritated by economical crisis. Mussolinis populist ideas were close both to common people ans to upper classes as he promised social stability and order. Mussolinis political program was successful in 1920s and in early 1930s as he stabilized economy, solved major social problems of poverty, unemployment and other social vices and slide byed self respect and pride to Italian nation.His government controlled media, adjust economy and social life of the country. But at the same time Mussolini revealed militaristic ambitions of fascistic Italia- intervention and cap ture of Abyssinia is the best proof of it. warfare in Abyssinia was not the only conflict fought after the WW1. On the furthermost East, Militarist Japan started intervention against Manchuria in 1938. These conflicts have shown the weakness of compact of Nation, organization which was created in order to preserve peace and prevent wars and local conflicts.Economical crisis on the hand with disintegration of the capitalist world and maturement threat from ideological enemy of capitalism-the USSR demonstrate the complicated system international relations in inter-war arrest. The results of WW1 became obvious after the 20 year period 2 totalitarian assures (the USSR and Nazi Germany) which had colonial ambitions stood against disintegrated democratic world, which was to weak to bear aggression of these two superpowers. The inter war period in the world history is characterized by three different concepts of state development communist, fascist and traditional democratic.Even th ough they are hostile, each was successful on a certain stage of development as it had taken ruined Russian empire, Germany and the USA out of economical crisis and had returned confidence and stability to their peoples. after(prenominal) Bolsheviks revolution in Russia, former empire was turned into a new state ruled by the Communist Party. Communist party of the USSR had do radical changes realizing Marxist ideas about revolution and dictatorship of proletariat abolition of private post, nationalization and equality of all citizens.Understandably in a patriarchal agricultural country with underdeveloped industry and ruined economy any idea about a firm state of proletariat (working class) would fail, but not in Russia. Stalin, who became the head of the communist party in 1928, had his own plan how to reform economy he proclaimed a course on rapid industrialization and collectivization of farming enterprises. In order to achieve development of industry he performed redistributi on of property, expropriating agricultural products from peasants and making them work in kolkhozes (collective state owned farms).In fact he turned free farmers into state slaves who had no property and had to work on state farms in order to survive. This cruel and uncivilized practice gave the opportunity to develop heavy industry mining and it gave the opportunity to start militarization. These results were achieved by numerous victims of innocent people who suffered from repressions and great purges as Stalins regime eliminated anyone who had another opinion on the destiny of the country. The total number of Stalins victims exceeds 20 million people. So what were his achievements?In quite a nearsighted period (20 years) Russia was turned into an industrial state with developing industry and one of the strongest armies in Europe. Society had changed as it was developing according to a socialist model. State was the only power in the country, state was the only property owner. C itizens in majority were nearly equal the difference between those who had the highest and the last-place income was not really distinct as in capitalist world. In fact, state provided a working citizen with essential facilities for living and guaranteed basic social and medial care.People got the facilities in order to work good exuberant but nothing else. The order in the country was realized by a total control of media, press and oppression of any potential opposition. Communism substituted religion as the official religion of communist state was atheism, communist party controlled all spheres of life, which led to the isolation of the country. Free market was substituted by barter within the country and market relations were substituted by planned economy..From historical point of view, the politics of Stalin, even being untamed and inhuman, was justified by historical need, as in order to survive and not collapse, Soviet Russia had to become a super power with a strong army a nd developed industry from an out-dated, semi-feudal empire with ineffective state management and corrupted aristocratic government. The main weakness of Stalins Russia was that the only condition under which the country could stand and continue its development was the constitution of terror and oppression of any potential threat in the spirit of political opposition.Such kind of regime, based only on suppression of human individualism, collectivism and isolation from the rest of the world would definitely fail if some liberties were allowed. So if to look on the history of the Soviet Union starting from Nikita Khrushchev we will see the gradual decline of totalitarian empire, which collapsed in 1991. Another example of totalitarian state of inter-war period is Nazi Germany. Nazi Germany led by Adolph Hitler embodied fascist ideas about a strong state with iron order. Hitlers phenomenon was a direct result of Versailles accordance consequences for after war Germany.Humiliated na tion, which suffered the burden of huge reparations, deep economical depression and social crisis caused by ineffective politics of democratic government of Weimar republic wanted the only thing retreat and revenge. So patrioteer and radical ideas of Nazis have succeeded. Germans saw a leader in Hitler, who promised return international respect and prosperity to the nation. Hitlers political program was actually simple and it satisfied Germans fully. Hitler promised descent work to workers and guaranteed protection of private property to businessmen.But his political program was also based on racial hatred, anti-Semitism, blind chauvinism and aggression. Nazis used nearly the same methods of oppression Stalin respectable during great purges, but they focused on ethnic non-German minorities, Communists and political opposition to Hitlers national-Socialist Party. German economy during Hitlers regime was also state regulated, as the owners of industrial objects had certain obligati ons they had to provide decent wages to workers and had to fulfil industrial state orders.Hitler had changed economy, he made it military oriented preparing the nation for a war. Social life during Nazi regime was also subjected to total control, fascist government controlled media, eliminated political opposition, persecuted ethnic minorities, which turned into Holocaust and racial extermination during WW2. Hitlers regime which had to solve racial and territorial question was inhuman and contradicted modern human consciousness. It had to be stop anyway by international coalition, otherwise the absurd and paranoia of one man would cause a world human tragedy.The methods of state regulation were also present during Roosevelts office even though he represented a free democratic country living under the laws of capitalism. Roosevelts New deal was a set of reforms and a set of measures taken in order to comfort the affects of the Great depression. State regulation over prices, control over banks activity and other measures had strengthened economy, getting the country of crisis. Nevertheless, despite the terrible affects of economical crisis and Great depression the USA stood and recovered.Comparing social and economical plaza in the USSR, the USA and Germany in inter-war period we may find several similar features in activities of their governments. All of them provided social programs for citizens in order to guarantee realization of basic human living needs health care, education, social protection and basic welfare programs. All three political regimes used state control over economy, which never used before. But in comparison to the USA where it had a temporary character, Germany and the USSR used it as an integral method of state administration which guaranteed stability and security.