Contemporary World Events and Issues - Book Report/Review Example

Imperialism combines colonialism and indirect rule by outsiders over the people in a certain colony. In imperialism, these areas were known as protectorates; the European powers made important decisions and local authorities implemented them. Increased expansion of colonies was fueled by the industrial revolution. Industrialization is the shift from products made by human and animal muscle power and wind and water as sources of energy to using fossil fuels to power machine production. The sources of energy were coal, oil, and natural gas.

Machines produced more goods and used more raw materials than human beings. Imperialism was also fostered by missionary zeal and patriotism. The European powers needed to spread Christianity, and very few places on earth were unconquered by European powers by the beginning of the World War 1. Scientific and technological advancement in the twentieth century caused optimism and large scale industrialization. Rivalry between European powers led to World War 1, which led to the modification of the state system developed in Europe and imposed on colonies.

The great depression and extreme ideologies in the Soviet Union, Italy, and Germany caused the German attack on Poland, which began the Second World War (1939-1945). Ideologies are sets of interrelated ideas which give meaning to events and formulate government policies. The defeat of Germany in the First World War produced an extreme form of nationalism that enabled Hitler to take over the government.