Colonialism

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Questions and Answers

According to Marx, why did oriental despotism emerge in India?

Because of the communal ownership of agricultural land

Because of the state's power of taxation

Because of the reliance on large-scale public works (correct)

Because of the process of modernization

What did Marx believe about the economic organization in India?

It was communist

It was capitalist

It was socialist

It was feudal (correct)

What was the impact of British colonialism in India according to Marx?

Creation of a market for industrial goods (correct)

Submission to political domination

Voluntary admission of foreign products

All of the above

According to the text, colonialism involves the subjugation of one people to another. When did political theorists begin using theories of justice, contract, and natural law to criticize and justify European domination?

During the Crusades and the conquest of the Americas Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, in the nineteenth century, what was the contradiction that arose between liberal ideals and colonial practice?

The dominion of Europe over the rest of the world reached its zenith Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what is the focus of the fifth section?

Contemporary post-colonial theory Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what did Tocqueville argue in favor of as a member of the Chamber of Deputies?

Expanding the French presence in Algeria Signup and view all the answers

What did Tocqueville believe was necessary for the success of the French endeavor in Algeria?

Attracting large numbers of permanent French settlers Signup and view all the answers

According to Marxism, what drives the expansion of capitalism?

Overproduction Signup and view all the answers

What did Tocqueville believe was the main concern for the stability of the French regime in Algeria?

Ability to provide good government to the French settlers Signup and view all the answers

According to John Stuart Mill, which of the following is NOT a reason why foreign peoples are not suited to governing colonies?

Even if the colonizers really try to treat the native peoples fairly, their natural tendency to sympathize with those similar to themselves would likely lead to distorted judgment in cases of conflict. Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what was Mill's solution to the problem of imperial misgovernment?

To create a specialized administrative corps with relevant knowledge of local conditions. Signup and view all the answers

According to recent scholarship, what is Daniel O'Neill's view on Edmund Burke's stance on imperialism?

O'Neill argues that Burke was a staunch supporter of imperialism. Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what did Alexis de Tocqueville believe about the benefits of colonialism?

Colonialism increased France's stature vis-à-vis rivals like England. Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, the Spanish conquest of the Americas sparked a debate about the use of military force to acquire control over foreign lands because

The Spanish conquest was taking place during a period of reform when humanist scholars within the Church were increasingly influenced by the natural law theories of theologians such as St. Thomas Aquinas. Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, the Spanish colonists insisted on enslaving the indigenous peoples because

The Spanish quickly concluded that the habits of the native Americans, from nakedness to unwillingness to labor to alleged cannibalism, clearly demonstrated their inability to recognize natural law. Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, Bartolomé de Las Casas and Franciscus de Victoria were influential critics of Spanish colonial practice because

They argued that all human beings share the capacity for rationality and have natural rights that stem from this capacity. Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, Pope Innocent IV concluded that force was legitimate only in cases where infidels violated natural law because

Under the influence of Thomism, Innocent IV concluded that force was legitimate only in cases where infidels violated natural law. Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what is the definition of colonialism?

The process of European settlement and political domination over the rest of the world Signup and view all the answers

Which term is often used as a synonym for colonialism?

Imperialism Signup and view all the answers

What is the etymology of the term 'colony'?

Comes from the Latin word 'colonus', meaning farmer Signup and view all the answers

What did Lenin argue about imperialism?

Imperialism was the necessary and inevitable result of the logic of accumulation in late capitalism Signup and view all the answers

According to Victoria, the use of force in the New World was considered legitimate when Indian communities violated the Law of Nations, which is derived from reason and universally binding. What did Victoria emphasize as the reason for the binding nature of the Law of Nations?

Consensus of the greater part of the whole world Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, Enlightenment thinkers such as Kant, Smith, and Diderot were critical of colonialism and challenged the idea that Europeans had the obligation to 'civilize' the rest of the world. What was one of the key issues that distinguished critics from proponents of colonialism and imperialism?

The role of culture in historical development Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what did the stadial theory of historical development propose?

Civilization is the culmination of a process of historical development Signup and view all the answers

According to Smith, why did he oppose imperialism?

Distortion of self-regulating market mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Oriental Despotism and Marx's View

Marx attributed the emergence of oriental despotism in India to the absence of private property and the lack of a revolutionary bourgeoisie.
He believed that India's economic organization was characterized by a self-sufficient village economy and a lack of division of labor.

Impact of British Colonialism

According to Marx, British colonialism in India led to the destruction of the traditional Indian economy and the imposition of a new economic system.

Colonialism and Its Definition

Colonialism involves the subjugation of one people to another.
The term "colony" originates from the Latin word "colonia," meaning "farm" or "settlement."
Imperialism is often used as a synonym for colonialism.

Theorists' Critique of Colonialism

In the 19th century, political theorists began using theories of justice, contract, and natural law to criticize and justify European domination.
The contradiction between liberal ideals and colonial practice arose in the 19th century.
Enlightenment thinkers such as Kant, Smith, and Diderot challenged the idea that Europeans had an obligation to 'civilize' the rest of the world.

Tocqueville's Views

Tocqueville argued in favor of French colonization of Algeria as a means of spreading French civilization.
He believed that the success of the French endeavor in Algeria depended on the creation of a loyal Algerian elite.
Tocqueville's main concern was the stability of the French regime in Algeria.

Marx's and Lenin's Views

According to Marxist theory, the expansion of capitalism drives the expansion of colonialism.
Lenin argued that imperialism is a necessary stage of capitalist development.

John Stuart Mill's Views

Mill's solution to the problem of imperial misgovernment was to grant representative government to colonies.
He believed that foreign peoples are not suited to governing colonies because they lack the necessary education and experience.

Other Theorists' Views

Bartolomé de Las Casas and Franciscus de Victoria were influential critics of Spanish colonial practice.
Pope Innocent IV concluded that force was legitimate only in cases where infidels violated natural law.
According to Victoria, the use of force in the New World was considered legitimate when Indian communities violated the Law of Nations.
Victoria emphasized that the Law of Nations is derived from reason and universally binding.

Stadial Theory and Imperialism

The stadial theory of historical development proposed that societies progress through stages, from savagery to civilization.
According to Smith, imperialism was opposed because it hindered the natural progress of societies.

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Test your knowledge on Tocqueville's involvement in French colonization of Algeria with this informative quiz. Explore his views, publications, and travels to Algeria, and gain a deeper understanding of his stance on expanding the French presence in the region.