Imperialism 101 By Michael Parenti

Created on 2022-04-29T16:43:17-05:00

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Imperialism defined as using militaristic force to keep an underclass of cheap resources and labor

"Slave" derived from "Slav" because of Charlamagne's use of slavic people for forced labor

Use of the third world for resources is very profitable

Distributing factories among third world economics to become immune to strikes

Imperialism not needed for capitalism to function; but is very profitable and so is typically done

Throughout history, wealthy classes generally have shown a preference for getting the best of everything. [..] While none of these things are really "necessary," they are fervently clung to by those who possess them—as witnessed by the violent measures endorsed by advantaged classes whenever they feel the threat of an equalizing or leveling democratic force.
One does not go to poor places for self-enrichment. The Third World is rich. Only its people are poor—and it is because of the pillage they have endured.
In every capitalist society, the poor—both domestic and overseas—regularly are blamed for their own condition.
Superior firepower, not superior culture, has brought the Europeans and Euro-North Americans to positions of supremacy that today are still maintained by force, though not by force alone.
Of course we must not romanticize these indigenous societies, some of which had a number of cruel and unusual practices of their own. But generally, their peoples enjoyed healthier, happier lives, with more leisure time, than did most of Europe's inhabitants.

Population decrease is spurred on by improvements in general quality of life

Referring to what the English colonizers did to the Irish, Frederick Engels wrote in 1856: "How often have the Irish started out to achieve something, and every time they have been crushed politically and industrially. By consistent oppression they have been artificially converted into an utterly impoverished nation."
Investors go into a country not to uplift it but to enrich themselves.
Under neoimperialism, the flag stays home, while the dollar goes everywhere—frequently assisted by the sword.
They discovered that the removal of a conspicuously intrusive colonial rule made it more difficult for nationalist elements within the previously colonized countries to mobilize anti-imperialist sentiments.

Neoimperialism is a model of leaving running of the desmesene to a local government but leaving capitalists free to use the population.