Introduction
1) Imperialism is a system where a powerful nation rules and exploits one or more colonies (collectively known as an empire). In most cases the imperialist nation establishes control over new territory by coercion – for example, through infiltration and annexation, political pressure, war and military conquest. Once conquered, this territory is claimed as a colony of the imperialist nation, which is sometimes benignly referred to as the ‘mother country’. Colonial government was operated by the imperial power, or by a subordinate puppet regime. A military presence was stationed in the colony, to control native inhabitants, to deal with uprisings and deter imperial rivals. The main advantages of imperialism, however, were economic. Colonies existed to profit and enrich the imperial power. In most cases this involved the supply of precious metals or other resources, such as timber, rubber, rice or other foodstuffs. Colonies were also an invaluable source of cheap labour, agricultural land and trading ports. http://alphahistory.com/worldwar1/imperialism/
2) Imperialism is the forceful extension of a nation's authority by territorial conquest or by establishing economic and political domination of other nations that are not its colonies. In various forms, imperialism may be as old as humanity. In the prehistorical world (before written history began), clan groups extended their territory and dominated others, competing against them for food and resources. Negatively, many cultures have suffered due to imperial domination since the dominant have often regarded themselves as superior and have neglected, or even deliberately destroyed, indigenous cultures. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Imperialism
3) Imperialism, state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas. Because it always involves the use of power, whether military force or some subtler form, imperialism has often been considered morally reprehensible, and the term is frequently employed in international propaganda to denounce and discredit an opponent’s foreign policy. http://www.britannica.com/topic/imperialism
4) Imperialism has been the most powerful force in world history over the last four or five centuries, carving up whole continents while oppressing indigenous peoples and obliterating entire civilizations. Yet, it is seldom accorded any serious attention by our academics, media commentators, and political leaders. When not ignored outright, the subject of imperialism has been sanitized, so that empires become “commonwealths,” and colonies become “territories” or “dominions” (or, as in the case of Puerto Rico, “commonwealths” too). Imperialist military interventions become matters of “national defense,” “national security,” and maintaining “stability” in one or another region. http://www.michaelparenti.org/Imperialism101.html
Task
