Imperialism is the economic relationship between two states commonly based on unequal rights and a class system. The dominating nation in the relationship often uses its economic power to oppress the people of the less dominant power thus leading to the collapse of the economy and the existing social structures. Despite the fact that imperialism brought nothing but fame and wealth to the colonial masters, some advancements like industrialization and technological advancements brought changes in some of the colonies as in the case of India during the British Raj regime.
British imperialism advanced after seven years of war that pitted colonial empires in Europe. Many European countries were envious of India since it was endowed with vast resources. The Dutch, Portuguese and France had interests. These prompted the British corporations to put the government under pressure to take control of India (Cox 5)
As the British gained more control over their colonies, the conditions of the natives worsened as they became less inferior. For instance, Cecile Rhodes, a British imperialist in Africa once referred to British as the finest race in the world and that the more the land they conquer, the better for the human race. With such instances of superiority over the native people, the colonial masters saw nothing wrong with beating abusing and treating the locals as slaves.
The justification of imperialism was based on perceived superiority, the conquest for more resources and nationalism. Typically, the British had a perception that the native people were ignorant. The colonial masters took control through political control with influence on the economic life and acquiring critical areas of the economy like trade and military advancement. Both political influence and advanced military technology were used to maintain stability in the imperialistic regime. Typically, British imperialism exploited resources and people of the less dominant countries without much regard towards environmental or social issues of the native people (Erickson 10).Through history, many British multinational companies have engaged in the exploitation and mistreatment of indigenous people. The British conquest of India is the best of this kind of imperialism
Despite the fact the British imperialism saw the improvement of the infrastructure and facilities found in India, little regard was initially given to the rights of the native Indian people. British were essentially interested in the vast resources and agricultural products. Also, India was seen as an important trade post due to its large population that provided a ready market for the manufactured products. Formerly, the British East India Company monopolized the Indian market through the exploitation of the weakness of the inferior Indian technology.
The British East India Company started a mass exportation of cotton, opium, spices and other goods with a strong backing of military force that was developed by the British government. At this time, there was nothing the Indian people could do to stop the massive exploitation. Very little profits that were realized from the sale of the Indian products were plowed back into the Indian economy. Also, James highlights that most of the products that were manufacturing using Indian resources were sold back to India at a higher price, yet the raw materials were acquired cheaply. Imperialism was beneficial for British with nothing good for the native Indians (20).
At the beginning of the 20th Century, many western ideologies seemed to justify and promote imperialism. For instance, Darwinians viewed imperialism as a moral duty of the developed nations to civilize the world through imperialism though in came with a cost.
After the British Queen Victoria II had granted East India company freedom to operate without competition, the British merchants set up agreements with the region's powers to virtually get rid of levy on outgoing products in exchange for European commodities. This strategy worked against the economy of India since most of the raw materials were acquired cheaply while the European products were priced expensively. Besides, India lost a lot of money in the form of taxes that could be realized from the exportation of products. Furthermore, the British used their powers to remove the powers of the local cultivators when it comes to the setting of prices for their farm produce. The price of agricultural goods was at the mercy of the East India Company a fact that provided a leeway for further exploitation. The company had established a perfect business model, a population to take advantage of and full domination (Cox 30).
After gaining dominance in the region, the East India Company developed procession factories at the source so as to reduce the cost of production. The factories used modern technology. To a larger extent, these helped in modernizing India a fact that place India on the international frontier as an emerging economy. However, industrialization and the advancement of technology damaged the social order and culture that defined the Indian people. The company’s total disregard for local traditions and customs were a common order within the ranks of the East India Company. Furthermore, the Indians were forbidden from owning land. If anyone wanted to cultivate land, he had to buy it from the company. This retrogressive policy contributed to food shortages in India and protests all over India.
When the condition of the Indians worsened, the clamor for independence became a reality among the Indians. Unlike other countries where the struggle for freedom was marred by violence, the Indians followed the right channel to independence through the adoption of the non-violent solution. The first revolt started in 1857 when the British soldiers of the Indian origin protested against being treated much less fairly compared to the British soldiers of the same rank. Most of the Indian soldiers got a lower pay with no pension after the service. The middle-class people who had lost their land to the company also joined the revolution to gain back their land since they were feeling oppressed.
The second protest against the British rule was led by Mahatma Gandhi. The Indians boycotted the British goods, education institutions, and the courts. Also, the Indian refused to pay taxes and boycotted work. The salt march by Gandhi was a breakthrough to the Indian economy since the native people started using locally manufactured salt instead of imported salt from Britain.
Although imperialism caused more harm to Africa and Indian traditional societies, the overall effect of the British rule was beneficial to both Indian and African colonies. For instance, the British brought modern education system. The British rule in India enhanced civilization through the provision of education to both male andfemale.For instance Halsall notes that “though yet only partial, an inestimatable blessing as far as it has gone, and leading to the destruction of superstitutions,and many moral and social evils” infrastructure, and technological advancements (1). The construction of the railway system in India enhances trade and communication by bringing together areas that were previously separated thus promoting economic cohesion.
A study by Anderson indicates that India was an agrarian economy. The majority of the population relied on farming as a source of livelihood. The British developed large-scale irrigation farming a fact that made India self-sufficient in food. Urbanization the establishment of a stronger military force was instrumental in the stability of India (80).
Despite the immense benefits that were realized through British Imperials, the British benefits most in the relationship. Also, the Indians and Africans paid the ultimate price of civilization through the destruction of the native culture. Furthermore, Halsall reiterates that there were “inequitable financial relations between England and India”(1). For instance, the British made India economically unstable. High taxes and the law that prohibited Indians from owning land worsened the living condition of the Indians.
Works Cited
Cox, George. History of the establishment of British rule in India. New Delhi: BiblioBazaar, 2013.Print
Erickson, Emily. Between monopoly and free trade: The English East India Company, 1600- 1758.New York: Princeton University Press, 2016.Print.
Halsall, Paul. Modern History Sourcebook: Dadabhai Naoroji: The Benefits of British Rule, 1871. New York: Fordham University Press, 1998. Web.
James, Lawrence. Raj: The making and Unmaking of British India. London: Little, Brown Book Group, 2010.Print.
