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European Motivations for Building Empires
There were varied end goals when Europeans began to build their empires, not just more obvious economic and geopolitical advantages. Some claimed lands simply so their enemies would not, while others dominated certain areas to appease missionaries already in place. Various specific reasons dominate any discussion of European imperialism, but the following are more general motivations.
Economic Motives for Imperialism
The economic potential of empire, as Britain and Spain had been proving for centuries, was unquestionable. By exploiting the lands it occupied, a European empire could insulate the mother country from booms and busts in the economic cycle by keeping markets open and exclusive. In addition, mercantile policies could increase revenues and natural resources could shore up the treasury.
Geopolitical Motives for Imperialism
Some of these areas were strategically important for maintaining trade routes to Asia or maintaining refueling stations for a worldwide navy. The Horn of Africa, the southern tip of the continent, and the west-African coast were among these strategic locations. Inside the continent, territory’s importance was similarly decided by its location. Great Britain, hoping to link Cairo in the north with Cape Town in the south, wanted north-south dominion; therefore, all the territory between those two points gained strategic value.
Nationalistic Motives for Imperialism
International conquests enhanced the prestige of a state, both domestically and internationally. The bigger, the better, with many countries seeking to acquire thousands of square miles of territory and millions of captive populations. To be a victor in the imperial competition meant increased national pride and, thus, the bolstering of the ruling party back at home. At its core, nationalism entails the unshakable belief within the population of a country that its citizens were superior to those of any other country. This belief legitimized the idea that one European country had a stronger claim than its European neighbors to exploit lands in other continents. It also fueled the larger pernicious “certainty” that Europeans were superior to Africans and Asians that went mostly unquestioned at the time.
Liberalism as a Motive for Imperialism
Though counterintuitive, liberalism had a large part in the colonization of Africa. The liberal tradition of late 19th century Europe emphasized not equality, as it does today, but self-improvement and the perfectibility of man. This belief, combined with a commitment to social Darwinism and the warped idea of “survival of the fittest,” encouraged the racist and paternalistic view that European colonization was actually altruistic, with Europeans seeking to raise up and civilize the “savage” natives. The 1899 poem “The White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling, a British poet, epitomized this ideal, presenting imperialism as a necessary burden for the good of all mankind. Even though it was written in response to the Philippine-American War, its applicability to European colonial attitudes shows just how widespread the ideals of European liberalism were.
Responses to Imperialism
While much of Europe enthusiastically participated in and looked upon the colonization of Africa, it would be simplistic to claim that imperialist policies were universally admired. One of the most famous and scathing critiques is Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart of Darkness, which brutally depicts both the processes of imperialism and its negative effects on both Africa and Europe. Conrad’s personal distaste for colonialism was not the only criticism levied at Europe’s empires, as some debate did exist as to the motives and effects of imperial actions. However, imperialism was largely accepted—and unquestioned—by Europeans in the years it was thriving aspect of European policy.
