Global Interdependence by Westad - Article Example

Colonialism also formed relationships between the colonies and the colonial powers that have heavily influenced global interdependence.The third article was by Davis and is about what the author terms as Victorian Holocausts. The main point of this article is that the colonialism of the Late Victorian Period had a detrimental effect upon the colonies, especially those in Africa. Davis contends that through a combination of greed, negligence, and apathy the colonial powers caused starvation, poverty, and backwardness.

The colonial powers were responsible for making the developing countries poorer after they finally gained independence. These three articles when studied together offer different insights into how contemporary global interdependence came about. The Westad article concentrated upon the influence that the United States has had on shaping the world after the Second World War. Westad contends that the United States played a much greater role in shaping the post-war world due to the superpower rivalry with the Soviet Union.

In contrast, the Cesaire article places the most importance on the experience of colonialism. Stating it was one of the most important factors in the shaping of contemporary global interdependence. Colonialism as an experience remains very important in our understanding of how the modern world was shaped. The Davis article offers a great amount of detail as to how misrule and exploitation by the colonial powers have continued to have a highly detrimental effect upon the wealth as well as the stability of many former colonies, particularly in Africa.

To be honest these three articles are most useful for understanding global interdependence when examined in combination with each other. In many respects, if forced to choose between the articles, the second article by Cesaire is most useful. Colonialism has probably done the most to shape the modern world.