Imperialism is a practice, theory, or attitude of maintaining or extending power over foreign nations, particularly through expansionism, employing not only hard power (economic and military power) but also soft power (cultural and diplomatic power) . It focuses on establishing or maintaining hegemony and a more or less formal empire. Imperialism is distinct from colonialism, although the two concepts are often conflated. While colonialism involves the settlement of people from one country to another, imperialism involves the extension of power and dominion over other areas, either through direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas.
The term "imperialism" originated from the Latin word imperium, which means supreme power, "sovereignty", or simply "rule". The word “imperialism” was originally coined in the 19th century to decry Napoleon’s despotic militarism and became common in the current sense in Great Britain during the 1870s, when it was used with a negative connotation. By the end of the 19th century, it was being used to describe the behavior of empires at all times and places.
Imperialism has often been considered morally reprehensible because it always involves the use of power, whether military or economic or some subtler form. Arguments about the causes and value of imperialism can be classified into four main groups: economic, political, cultural, and moral. Some argue that imperialism pays because it provides human and material resources and outlets for goods, investment capital, and surplus population. Others, however, argue that imperialism is motivated by the wish to exploit resources and appear stronger on the international scene.
Imperialism has been justified in the name of a “civilizing mission” of supremacy that the European states granted to themselves. The expansion of their power has been done after a wish to universalize their values. In reality, the Empires were leading a policy of conquest, motivated by the wish to exploit resources and appear stronger on the international scene. Imperialism has had a significant impact on history, particularly on the history of the United States.
