Neocolonialism
Definition
Neocolonialism is the practice by which powerful countries indirectly maintain or extend their influence over other countries, often developing nations, not by physical control but by economic and cultural dominance.
Analogy
Imagine if the popular kids at school started influencing what everyone else wore, listened to, or even thought - not by forcing them directly but by making certain things seem cool or desirable. That's kind of what neocolonialism is like on a global scale.
Related terms
Imperialism: This is policy or ideology of extending a nation's rule over foreign nations, often by military force or by gaining political and economic control. If those popular kids started directly telling others what to do, it would be more like imperialism.
Cultural Diffusion: This term refers to the spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another. The mixing of world cultures through different ethnicities, religions and nationalities has increased with advanced communication, transportation and technology.
Dependency Theory: This theory suggests that global inequality is due to the exploitation of peripheral and semi-peripheral nations by core nations. Like if those popular kids only stayed popular because they kept everyone else down.
"Neocolonialism" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (4)
- Which of the following countries is neocolonialism most likely to be practiced in?
- Which of the following is an example of neocolonialism?
- Which action best represents Neocolonialism as a challenge to state sovereignty?
- How might critiques of neocolonialism relate to concerns about sustainable development practices globally?
Resources
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