Colonialism

Colonialism is a system that concerns the settlement of one group or nationality in a new geographical location. Often frequently confused with imperialism, colonialism is in fact a separate practice that results from the ideology of imperialism. The latter can involve political control of lands and peoples; however, it does not require settlement for its successful operation. Colonialism was undeniably linked to profit, economics, and material gain. Therefore Elleke Boehmer maintains that colonialism is “the settlement of territory, the exploitation or development of resources, and the attempt to govern the indigenous inhabitants of occupied lands” (1995, 2). Frequently based in aggressive methods of mercantilism and the economic exploitation of colonized nations for cheap labor and raw materials (e.g., sugar, cotton, gold, diamonds, tea, coffee, cocoa, ...