The concepts of imperialism, colonialism, and nationalism were particularly prominent and essential in the 19th and 20th centuries. Their predominance has significantly changed the course of the world. This paper discusses three historical examples of all this and argues for their significance, not only concerning historical experience but also in the context of modernity.
The emergence of phenomena of imperialism and, later, colonialism was significantly linked to the Industrial Revolution. All of this took on a particularly acute form in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The most prominent imperialist, Great Britain, was great on its subjects in socio-economic and psychological terms, which was often manifested in the demoralization of the subjugated peoples (O’Brien 168).
European colonization was met with resistance from African and Asian countries, although technological advantages made Europeans win. An example of this is the Opium Wars between China and Great Britain, where the latter brutally defeated and forced the Chinese to allow opium traffic legalization (Alexander 382). Such advantages of the Europeans brought by the technological advances had a significant impact on the direction of the 19th and 20th centuries, the consequences of which are evident in modern times.
The most apparent manifestation of nationalism that had the most significant impact on the world was Germany in the first half of the twentieth century. Before the outbreak of World War I, in 1914, Germany actively invested in the further fueling of nationalism, and it was all so effective that it even made it possible to raise funds for the “war fever” (De Juan et al., 173). German nationalism, in the event of both world wars, left a substantial mark on world history and the new redistribution of power in the twentieth century.
In conclusion, imperialism, colonialism, and nationalism played a key role in the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. Their influence is still evident today, demonstrated in the universally established ideals of the world, be they economic, social, or cultural, which have nearly always originated in the West. Imperialist-colonialist patterns can also be identified in the politics of raw materials between developed and third-world countries.
Works Cited
De Juan, Alexander, et al. “World War I, Nationalism, and the Rise of the Nazi Party.” OSF Preprints. (2021).
Alexander, Joseph G. “The Truth about the Opium War.” The North American Review 163.478 (1896): 381-383.
O’Brien, Patrick K. “The Costs and Benefits of British Imperialism 1846-1914.” Past & Present 120 (1988): 163-200.