Settler Colonialism

Settler colonialism relates to the mass transfer of family units from a metropolis to colonial outposts in order to populate those particular geographical locales with colonial stock. Imperial powers, such as Britain, France, and Spain, oversaw the migration of settlers who were willing to establish themselves in the colonized areas. In many cases, this process of colonization correlated with the depopulation of the original inhabitants, leaving the settlers with the chance to inhabit the land vacated by the original inhabitants. James Belich refers to an “Anglo divergence” that took place during the 19th century, marked by the process of territorial expansion propelled through the use of force and mass settlement, as well as the speed of industrialization that was responsible for more complex economic structures ...