Introduction:
The doctrines of imperialism, Colonialism and Nationalism have greatly
contributed in shaping the human history. The history is replete with so many
tales of favoritism and antagonism nurtured by these doctrines. The Humanism; a
literary and philosophical movement that has left undeletable impacts not only
on the classical and radical literature but history as well, Joined the above
three doctrines in the mid of the second millennium as a by-product of
Renaissance in Europe. Different authors have defined these doctrines in
different ways. These terms are being defined in the following lines for the
sakes of conceptual clarity.
The definitions:
Imperialism:
Imperialism means the power and authority of an emperor. It includes the policy,
practice or advocacy of extension of a nation’s power or influence over other
territories. It stands for policies, which aim at creating, organizing and
maintaining an empire.
Charles A Beard defined imperialism”as an employment of these different engines
of government and diplomacy to acquire territories, protectorates and spheres of
influence occupied by other races of people and to promote industrial, trade and
investment opportunities. The author has further elaborated that imperialism may
be with or without high regard for the welfare of the inhabitants of the area
under control. It may be development or exploitative and it may promote the
capacity for self-government, or ruthlessly suppress all the impulses in that
direction.’
The rule of imperialism stands for authoritarianism and dictations. ‘ Raymond
Buell remarks . ‘Every unjustifiable demand made by one government upon
another---- every war----based on aggression, is called imperialistic.’ It is
believed that the aggression of one imperialistic power to another is counter
imperialism it could also be taken as colonialism. The imperialism in its worst
from paves the way for many ills including to that of colonial rule.
These aspects bring into focus the dismal picture of imperialism. But this rule
of statecraft has some plus points also. The most important fact is the word
imperialism is a highly subjective term-----which the writers define it pretty
much as they please.
Colonialism:
Colonialism, in strict sense, refers to the British settlements in the Asian and
African states solely for the benefit of the United Kingdom. It implies for the
policy, practice or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation
especially by territorial acquisition or gaining indirect control over the
political or economic life of other areas. The theory of Colonial system
emphasizes that the settlements abroad should be treated as proprietary
dominions exploited for the benefit of the mother country.
Nationalism:
Nationalism originally means that mankind is naturally divided into various
nations’ land that these constitute the natural units of political sovereignty.
But the modern connotations of the term mean that “it is a formulation of
rationalization of national consciousness and as such it inevitably sought full
expression in unified and independent statehood. Hollowell opines that,
“nationalism is a form of collective egotism, rooted in the love of familiar
land and people.”
Humanism:
Humanism implies for the system of beliefs that concentrates on human needs and
seeks ways of solving human problems based on reason rather the belief in God.
Humanism concentrates on the dignity of man. ”Man is the measure of all
things.”At its best, Humanism helped to civilize man; to make him realize the
potential, power and gifts and to reduce the discrepancy between potentiality
and attainment. It is a way of dealing with the disequilibrium caused by the
conflict between belief and doubt. The currents of the movement have remained
purely secular and gave significance to the worldly wisdom for solving human
problems. The socio-intellectual currents of humanism have boosted up man’s
potential to resist suppression.
Nature, Scope and dimensions of Imperialism
Imperialism: the narcissistic form of rule:
Imperialism stands for a government by an emperor who governs the state and
controls the lives of his subjects. It also includes a kind of rule headed by a
group of aristocrats who exert themselves only for the well being of their own
families. Thus, imperialism involves autocratic rule, monarchy and autocracy. It
cultivates the instinct of self- adoration in the ruler and makes him demy god
among human beings. The authority empowers him to decide the destiny of his
subjects. He lets the people remain alive if he pleases. The imperialistic rule
empowers the monarchs the authorities without liabilities.
Imperialism: the rule of absolutism and totalitarianism:
The imperialism at times opened Pandora’s Box for humanity. In the days, when
monarchy or autocratic rule prevailed, the king did not require public mandate
to prove his legitimacy: He was immune to all sorts of accountability. No one
dared to interrogate him. The national exchequer was his private property and he
was not supposed to exert himself for the welfare of his people. In most of the
cases, the king had two tasks to perform: One was to wage war against the
neighbouring territories and the other was to pile upon the score of his better
halves. If a crowd of life partners may be designated as better halves, besides
ruling over the state the king had to administer the directorate of his
matrimonial joint stock company. History records many kings who had a large army
comprising their own progeny. At the same time, many emperors came to limelight
that went on increasing the number of their wives to bring out a single male
issue. Such kind of emperors never bothered about the grievances of the people.
The common man was enslaved and bound to act what he was asked to. The
aristocrats instead of maintaining infrastructure kept on grinding their own
axe. This worsened the living conditions alarmingly. Such kind of state of
things invited invasions by warriors who had some wisdom besides monsterity.
It’s ipso facto true that the English plundered and looted all the landscapes
they ruled over. Their greed for making money knew no bounds. Their love for god
or wealth ‘The Mammon’ was intense, but in comparison to other Europeans, the
English were prudent and decent Had the French, Portuguese or the Dutch
conquered India, the state of monarchy would have been more terrible and intense
“English, the shop keeper’s nation”(Napoleon) avoided encounter as long as it
was possible. Although, they worked for preaching Christianity but they were
less fanatic. The technology, science awareness and education which the backward
countries have sought, are to a great extent provided by the English. After the
freedom and partition of India, It is generally believed that the colonialism
has died. But it is not. The people have not yet got away out of the spell of
European Colonialism. The supremacy, which the west acquired in the 16th
century, has been constantly in its grip. At times white man’s supremacy proves
to be annoying to the oriental people, but their landmark achievements in all
walks of life should be inspirational to all the nations of the world. People
have strong aversion against all forms of imperialism because it denies human
dignity. But the way out, the most of the eastern nations have sought, does not
ensure salvation. If people adopt the measure of protests, demonstrations and
uprising against big powers, they just add to their tangles. If they think this
can relive them of super power bondage, they are mistaken. To any remedy, people
should know the nature of ailments and their causes.
If a nation comprises lethargic and carefree people, it is bound to suffer
financial crisis, which invites economic imperialism.
The countries, which leg behind in science, technology and academic sector,
come across intellectual imperialism.
The nations or governments, which damn care for democratic rights of the
people, invite military imperialism.
The nations of the world, if want to expel the gigantic beast of imperialism
from their countries, they do not need to fight. They have to overcome their
shortcomings and work on sound footings to achieve progress in all walks of
life.
The factor that causes the hurdle in the attainment of progress and prosperity
is the ill will of backward nations. They must have the rationalistic stock of
the situation. True assessment of these nations in the unipolar world may
inspire them to work. Survival in the modern world with a number of shortcomings
and weakness appears to be impossibility now. The nations intend to have living
with ignoble compromises are destined to be enfeebled, dishonoured, humiliated
and finally eliminated: