Question

Government: What are the differences between a neo-colonial model and a more classical empire? What are some benefits of the neo-colonial model?

Answer 1

Sol:

In the early 1960s,neo-colonialism was first defined as a description of the economic (and other) lengths that one country might go to in an attempt to expedite the cultural assimilation of a foreign territory. Cultural assimilation, as described at this time by Kwame Nkrumah, is desired by the colonizing country because it opens the colonized country for an economic partnership — even exploitation.

This definition may seem straightforward, but the post-WWII environment in which the term “neo-colonialism” was coined was quite unique. These years saw the rapid decolonization of many countries - particularly African nations - that had been subject to European rule. The term “neo-colonialism’ was used to describe the lingering relationship these colonies kept with their former colonizer (Schultz 65). Because neo-colonialism developed as a concept in this post-war period, a great deal of focus was put on the continuing affiliation between colony and colonizer.

In my opinion, neo-colonial relationships like these (that are so dependent on a unique colonial relationship) should more often be subsumed under post-colonial theory. This is because today we see the same practices of neo-colonialism being carried out between cultures with no historical colonial connection. While studying cultural ties in post-colonization periods can expose the ideas of neo-colonialism in several ways, post-colonial theory doesn’t express the full essence of neo-colonialism.

Historically, two of the most definitive examples of cultural imperialism include the French in Africa following World War Two, and the Cold War Era. During the Imperial Age, much of Africa was colonized by the European powers. After World War Two came decolonization of the colonized African Nations, many of which were under French rule at the time. Following their decolonization, post-colonial ties remained between the nation of France and her former colonies. After all, African nations were faced with a great number of issues at the occasion of their decolonization such as national security, economic concerns, finding a socio-political identity, and delivering aid to their struggling peoples (Nkrumah). These countries required support, and the French were willing to provide it to them in exchange for economic and diplomatic partnerships. Ties continue all the way to this day, and this continuing relationship has been referred to as Francafrique (Boisbouvier). In the case of the Cold War Era, the two main belligerents — the United States of America and the Soviet Union — were heavily invested in promoting their culture in all corners of the world as they competed for ideological supremacy. These countries gathered as many allies as possible while spreading their ideologies far and wide in an attempt to prove themselves the greater country and ensure security in the possible event of a nuclear war.

While financial profit is one of the most straightforward ways that a nation can benefit from neo-colonialism, there are more motivations that might cause a country to engage in these pursuits.

One of these is national security. Just as in the Cold War, nations have an interest in fostering goodwill and dependence in other parts of the world; creating allies and dependent states that would not go to war against them, or support them in the event of the war. Another motivating factor is to acquire resources. As the world’s population multiplies, valuable resources are being stretched thin. Growing countries such as China and India need to secure access to fuel and food to provide for their citizens, and neo-colonialism has been shown to allow them the influence to negotiate access to these resources. Diplomatic power also seems to be a reason to engage in neo-colonialism; countries that have similar cultures are likely to agree and vote identically on international issues. Even if they don’t agree, countries that are dependent on another nation may feel obligated to act in the wishes of their neo-colonizer, as a derogatively titled “puppet state”.