Imperialist States

Definition

Imperialist states refer to nations that create empires by exerting their power over other nations through military force or diplomatic maneuvers.

Analogy

Imagine a popular kid in school who wants more friends not just for companionship but also to increase his influence. He does this either by being charming (diplomatic maneuvers) or sometimes through bullying (military force). That's what imperialist states do on a much larger scale.

Related terms

Empire: An extensive group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch, an oligarchy, or a sovereign state.

Colonial Empire: A collective of territories (often overseas), settled by migrants from the mother country and governed by that same home state.

Neo-imperialism: The policy of a strong nation in seeking political and economic hegemony over an independent nation without necessarily reducing it to the legal status of a colony.