> Can you please explain:
>
> 1. How Sweden as an 'imperialist' country dominates India?
Hi Dave Z:
I never claimed that Sweden dominates India economically. What I claimed is that the economies of the former colonies tend to be dominated by imperialist nations.
>2. How does 'neo-colonialism' operate?
Following the successful anti-colonial movements, new nations were created and colonialism in the formal sense of the term ended (some exceptions, i.e. colonies, still remain, though). Neo-colonialism describes a relationship in which the wealth and control of the resources in the formal colonized world still tends to be under the ownership and control of the imperialist nations. The praxis of neo-colonialism can take a number of forms but, most commonly, two:
1. the governments in the former colonial nations are controlled often by a small elite of wealthy native landowners and capitalists (who often secured that wealth initially as a consequence of colonialism) who work hand-in-hand with one or more imperialist nations to continue the existing economic (and, often, extra-economic) relations between the 'sovereign' nations and the imperialist nations. And, (a nod to David Y and Paul B), bribery is commonly used in these instances (imperialist nations know how to reward their supporters - and punish their enemies - in the neo-colonies).
2. international institutions (like the IMF, the WB, the WTO, the UN), which are controlled by imperialist nations, can exercise more indirect control over those nations such that the economic (and extra-economic) interests of the imperialist nations are preserved.
The concept of neo-colonialism allows us to understand a major reality in the post-WW2 world: even following independence, the wealth in former colonized nations still tends to be controlled by 'outside' forces in the advanced capitalist nations.
A more recent example is South Africa. After apartheid, there was majority rule but the wealth within the nation still tended to be owned by the same corporations and individuals. So, while there were political changes, there weren't major economic changes. This is the kind of change that allows for the preservation of existing economic relations, including imperialism.
Sweden certainly isn't the major imperialist nation in the world today. But they are a minor one and they share in the benefits of imperialism. And, as I mentioned before, they are part of the European Union - an imperialist bloc.
In solidarity, Jerry _______________________________________________
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Received on Thu Jan 14 07:09:52 2010
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