Colonialism

Colonialism is the expansion of a nation's sovereignty beyond its borders through the establishment of colonies. It is usually seen as a substantial part of imperialism, especially when involving sovereignty over foreign cultures or peoples. The word today is usually tied to the European expansion during and after the Age of Exploration and involved lands that were far away from the nation ruling them.

Colonialism typically involves the spread of a nation or people's culture through the establishment of new settlements (e.g. English settlement of the New England states) or opulation transfers to existing settlements (e.g. Dutch dominance of South Africa.)

Colonialism is most associated with the Roman Empire, British Empire and French ambitions in Africa, and with Japan in Asia.

Misuse of the Term

Anti-American sentiment and liberals in general commonly deride American foreign policy as colonial or imperial, which is deceitful, as the United States has no colonies (having relinquished the Philippines, which had previously been Spanish, not sovereign), made Hawaii a state, smaller lands (Guam, etc...) protectorates, and purchased or legally acquired other territories (Guantanamo, Panama Canal). Similarly, liberals also generally imply with colonialism that it was generally parasitic to the original people and stealing resources, when that is actually rare among colonialization.

Common myths

There are many common myths and misconceptions associated with the term. Texts generally claim European people's established foreign colonies because of "overcrowding," and imposed their administrative laws in native people's. In reality, colonialism was an expansion of trade intended to develop markets for European manufactured goods. Colonies were typically established among tribal people, often dominated by warlords, where laws varied in the same region from tribe to tribe. Natives often welcomed European administration and courts, which brought a more uniform system of justice and prosperity.

South Africa is s prime example. During the Apartheid period it was said South Africa's native blacks were an oporessed majority. South Africa's majority blacks are not native to South Africa - they are the descendents of economic migrants who came to South Africa to participate in the economic development white Europeans brought to South Africa. Whites also brought a more just administration of laws than migratory blacks found among their native tribes send regions.

During the Cold War. South Africa was a ripe targrt for Kremlin-directed Marxist propaganda. While the Soviet Union, Marxist hate speech and lies live on in the ruling South African socialist regime today, driven by racial animus and political correctness to a hatred for Western Civilization.