Contemporary imperialism

After the recent abduction of Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, the most important question is how this will affect other countries like the Philippines. For geopolitical observers, the most relevant potential scenarios came from the interviews with Donald Trump after the event. For example, Trump said that the United States would “run” Venezuela. Among the accusations is that Maduro and Venezuela “stole” the Venezuelan oil from the United States.

In the past few days, the US President has also reiterated his threats to take over Greenland and Colombia. These are earthshaking threats that are reminiscent of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, after Russia claimed that Ukraine belonged to them. Then there is the constant aggression of China in the South China Sea which it claims belongs to them. This has led to constant harassment of Filipino fishermen even while fishing in Philippine territory. China has also threatened to invade Taiwan.

All these events, which are still currently happening, have led me to ask if imperialism in its classical form is witnessing a resurgence in the 21st century.

The classic definition of imperialism is that it is a political, economic and cultural system in which a powerful state extends its influence or control over other territories or peoples. This control can take many forms, including direct military occupation, political domination, economic dependence or cultural influence. While imperialism is often associated with European empires of the 19th century, it was assumed that this has ended with the extensive decolonization of former European colonies, especially after the Second World War. However, imperialism seems to have adapted to new global conditions and has continued to shape international relations in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Traditionally, this meant that one nation ruled another as a colony. In modern times, imperialism often operates more indirectly. Powerful nations may influence weaker ones through economic pressure, military alliances, control of resources, political intervention or the spread of an ideology or culture.

Nowadays, this is sometimes called “neo-imperialism” because control is exercised without formal colonization.

Imperialism has actually existed since the beginnings of ancient civilization such as Rome, Persia and China, which expanded their territories through conquest.  However, modern imperialism is most closely linked to European expansion from the 15th to the early 20th centuries. Countries like Britain, France, Spain and later the United States and Japan built global empires driven by industrialization, trade, nationalism and competition for power.

For three hundred years starting the 16th century, the Philippines was a colony of Spain. In the late 19th century, the United States annexed the Philippines and a bloody war of independence was waged by the Filipinos against the Americans. Thousands of lives were lost before the Filipino independence movement was finally subjugated. Then during the Second World War, Japan again, after Spain and the United States, conquered our country.

After declaring its independence in 1946, Philippine territory was again being claimed by another superpower, China. In many ways, these are examples that imperialism has not disappeared but rather, evolved.

In the 21st century, imperialism has become more subtle and often economic or strategic, rather than territorial. However, the recent events in Venezuela and Trump’s claim that he intends to run Venezuela seems to have deviated from this “subtle” interpretation of imperialism.

In his recent speeches, Trump did not even pretend that the American action was motivated by a desire to reintroduce democracy to Venezuela. In fact, one of his first statements was to say that recent Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado was not qualified to become the next president of Venezuela. He was quoted to have said that Machado “doesn’t have the respect” to lead the country.

Machado is the acknowledged leader of the opposition and is believed to have been the real winner in the last presidential election in Venezuela. The US President further stated that they are in discussions with current acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, for several issues such as the return of control over oil resources to American companies.

While most cases of modern imperialism often work through interventions, alliances and long-term influence rather than direct rule, the world is waiting for the American interpretation of the meaning of Trump’s real plan on how it intends to “run” Venezuela.

In the 20th century, American imperialism usually took an indirect form. Rather than building traditional colonies, the United States expanded its influence through economic power, military bases, political intervention and cultural influence. During the Cold War, the United States intervened in countries like Vietnam, Korea and various nations in Latin America to contain communism and protect its strategic interests.

The question now is whether Trump is going to continue this indirect method or return to the 19th century style of imperialism.

The Philippines, however, is more concerned with China, the superpower in this region. China’s history with imperialism is complex and different from Western models. Historically, China expanded territorially by incorporating into its nation regions such as Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. The proclamation that the entire South China Sea is part of China is another example of Chinese imperialism.

Traditional colonial empires have largely ended but superpowers continue to exert influence over other countries through economic, political and military means. The recent event in Venezuela has the potential to become the template for similar activities by other superpowers.

*      *      *

Email: [email protected]