Neo-colonialism
Neocolonialism is a term used by Marxist and and non-Marxist groups and individuals to describe the operations of capitalism at the international level during the era when colonial empires, created by the European powers in the 18th and 19th centuries, are no longer in existence. These critics allege that capitalist powers (both nations and corporations), and in particular the United States, aim to control other nations through indirect means; that in lieu of direct military-political control, neocolonialist powers employ economic, financial and trade policies to dominate less powerful countries. Those who subscribe to the concept maintain this ammounts to a de facto control over targeted nations.
They portray the choice to grant or to refuse granting loans, especially by international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, as a decisive form of control. They argue that in order to qualify for these loans (as well as other forms of economic aid), weaker nations are forced to take steps favourable to the financial cartels represented by the IMF/WB, but detrimental to their own economies, adding rather than alleviating their poverty. They also attempt to demonstrate that investment by multinational corporations enriches few in underdeveloped countries, and causes humanitarian (as well as enviormental and ecological) devastation to the populations which inhabit 'neocolonies,' because (they maintain) it cultivates those countries as reservoirs of cheap labor and cheap raw materials, while denying them access to technologies necessary for development of their economies.
Neocolonialism: origins in decolonization
The term neocolonialism first saw widespread use, particularly in reference to Africa, soon after the post-WWII process of decolonization which followed a struggle by many national independence movements in the colonies. Upon gaining independence, some national leaders and opposition groups argued that their countries were being subjected to a new form of colonialism, waged by the former colonial powers and other developed nations. In Africa, the French played a prominent role in charges of conducting a neocolonialist policy, and that French troops in Africa were (and it is argued, still are) often involved in coups resulting in a regime acting in the interests of France but against its country's own interests.
Denounciations of necolonialism also became popular with some national independence movements while they were still waging anti-colonial armed struggle. During the 1970s, in the Portuguese colonies of Mozambique and Angola, for example, the rhetoric espoused by the Marxist movements FRELIMO and MPLA (respectively), which were to eventually assume power upon those nations' independence, rejected both old colonialism and neocolonialism.
Africa: Neocolonialist allegations against the IMF
Those who argue that neocolonialism historically supplanted or supplumented colonialism, point to the fact that Africa today pays more money every year (in loan interest payments) to the IMF/WB than it receives in loans from them, thereby often depriving the inhabitants of those countries from actual necessities. This dependency, they maintain, allows the IMF/WB to impose Structural Adjustment Plans upon these nations. These plans include privatization adjustments and a prohibition of the development of infrastructure, which they say result in deteriorating health, education, and in general, lower living standards. These plans are also said to prevent the development of the countries into self-sufficient economies, keeping them dependent upon aid from the richer nations, and therefore forced to allow their policies to be dictated from abroad in order to survive.
They also point to recent statements made by United Nations Secretary-General's Special Economic Adviser, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, who heatedly charged that the entire African debt (~$200 billion) be forgiven outright and recommended that African nations simply stop paying if the WB/IMF do not reciprocate:
The time has come to end this charade. The debts are unaffordable. If they won't cancel the debts I would suggest obstruction; you do it yourselves. Africa should say: 'thank you very much but we need this money to meet the needs of children who are dying right now so we will put the debt servicing payments into urgent social investment in health, education, drinking water, control of aids and other needs.' (Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia and Special Economic Advisor to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan).
Other critics of the IMF have conducted studies of the effects of its policy of demanding devaluations of the currencies of its client states. They argue that the IMF simply requires devaluation as a condition for refinancing loans, while simultaneously demanding that the loan be repaid in dollars or other currencies against which the client currency is being devalued -- which has the effect of increasing the debt by the same percentage that the client currency is being devalued. This, these critics argue, is a scheme for trapping not only African, but Third World nations in general in perpetual debt service.
Other approaches to concept of neocolonialism
Although the neocolonialist approach was developed by Marxists, the rhetoric of neocolonialism is now also employed by promoters of conspiracy theories on the extreme right. One variant of the neocolonialist view suggests the existence of "cultural colonialism," the alleged desire of wealthy nations to control other nations' values and perceptions through cultural means, such as media, language, education and religion, purportedly ultimately for economic reasons.
See also
