Western Imperialism and influence in Asia and Africa - Essay Example

of the of the Concerned 22 September 2009 Western Imperialism and Influence in Asia and Africa There is no dearth of historians who hold that it is almost utterly difficult to establish as to whether Asia benefitted from or was harmed by Western imperialism and influence. However, the answer to this dilemma is not so amorphous or vague as it seems. The growth of Western imperialism in Asia was not based on any philanthropic or humanitarian motives. Pure and naked 'profit motives' were the reasons why some of the most cultured and civilized powers of West choose to colonize Asia in the late 18th and early 19th century.

The roaring and booming industrial revolution in the West was hungry for raw material and markets. In such a scenario, the natural resources rich and well-populated land mass of Asia furnished answers to some of the most pressing Western economic problems and challenges. The path to rampant colonialism was initiated by resorting to a tactics of indirect administration, where the local elitist and vested interests in the respective countries were coerced or enticed into conniving with the Western regimes to pursue a policy of blatant economic and human exploitation.

This not only deepened the class conflicts in the Asian societies, but also led to the degradation of the native cultures and traditions. The ex-colonialists tend to boast that they brought technology and education to Asia. However, the reality was that this so-called introduction of civilization in Asia was more of a tool to assist and streamline the job of European administrators and corporations. Africa during the genesis of Western imperialism did not seem so lucrative to the European powers in a commercial context, except being a breeding ground for cheap black salves and a strategic post to control and manage some of the most important trade routes.

However, in the times to come, Africa was to be a chessboard on which some of the prominent powers of the West were to materialize their quest for raw usurpation in the name of national security and pride. The ability of the Western settlers to camouflage their covetousness and greed into a garb of social Darwinism, which justified their submission of Africa on the premise of civilizing the black native, allowed them to pursue their unscrupulous designs with a confidence and sense of uprightness that a hollow sense of morality often entails.

Hence, came the white man into Africa with its responsibility of civilizing the local barbarians and with him came the missioners who were oblivious of the native religions and beliefs, not to speak the dreaded syphilis and gonorrhea. Africa were traditionally the national boundaries were loosely defined, governed and decided by local tribes, was forcefully sliced and carved into geometrical territories being administered and exploited by varied Western powers. This annihilated the traditional balance of power that was so subtle and intricate, which gave way to gory ethnic and tribal clashes and warfare, with which Africa is grappling with until today.

The so-called education and technology that the West introduced into Asia and Africa was actually an essential tool required by the usurping masters to tame and control the local people and resources. It is different that these very tools of exploitation eventually become the media of local dissent and liberty.