Neocolonialism is the idea that former colonizers can still control former colonies through economic policies and trade practices, often with the help of corporations and governments. This practice persists despite political independence and can also manifest in social policy. Resistance includes rethinking economic policy and empowering developing nations.
Neocolonialism is a term used to refer to the idea that nations that have historically acted as colonizers can exercise power and control over former colonies. Theorists who study neocolonialism argue that corporations can also be involved in this practice, sometimes with the support of governments and sometimes acting on their own. There are a number of factors that contribute to the development and persistence of neocolonialism.
This concept began to arise in Africa during the mid-20th century as a number of African nations began to achieve independence from European powers. Intellectuals in Africa have noted that despite the fact that these nations were politically free, in the sense that they were not legally treated as colonies, many had not achieved full freedom. In some cases, their governments were under the control of former colonial powers, as seen when foreign governments pushed for the appointment of specific people to positions of power, and many of these nations had economic dependence on their former colonizers .
One of the areas where neocolonialism can be seen most clearly is in the realm of economic policy and trade practices. When they were colonies, many nations were exploited for natural resources. The practice of resource exploitation by foreign powers persists under neocolonialism, and some nations encounter stiff resistance when they attempt to nationalize or otherwise regain control of their resources.
International economic policy can contribute to neocolonialism, as seen when former colonies are granted loans on very restrictive terms to support development initiatives. Corporations active in the former colonies can use their influence to force concessions from the national government, including relaxations on everything from environmental regulations to trade tariffs. Some scholars argue that multinational corporations are in a clear position of power and abuse that power to create trading conditions favorable to their interests.
The legacy of colonialism can also manifest itself in the form of social policy. Foreign aid programs are sometimes accused of engaging in neocolonialism by imposing values and policies on countries in need without considering the cultural or historical contexts of aid crises. Similarly, the developed world is sometimes accused of condescending to developing nations by forcing them to enact policies rather than empowering them to act on their own.
Colonialism and neocolonialism are complex and charged topics. There are several ways to resist the social and cultural attitudes left over from colonialism, including rethinking economic policy and how nations and societies interact with members of the developing world.
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