Following my latest video, while talking to a friend, I told her:
Imperialism uses colonialism in many ways. Colonialism can lead to imperialism if it escalates over time.
They are elements that today are so interconnected that they can hardly be separated.
Basically, the current world could be divided into imperialists (military and geopolitical powers like the USA, Russia, China) with military capacity to impose their vision in their areas of influence.
Neo-imperialists (or colonialists) those who do not have the military capacity to be a superpower and use more subtle methods of domination.
The rest are the countries that are subjugated or those that establish the necessary alliances, do not enter the geopolitical game, or prioritize nationalism to preserve their national interests.
Of course, the matter is more complex than that. Historical conditions and processes of exploitation and oppression place nations in very diverse situations. As she told me, you can't put Haiti and France in the same place or analyze them the same way. In any case, I gave her an oversimplification to express a point, and from that point, everyone should delve deeper and investigate to refute, confirm, or form another opinion.
Nevertheless, to continue the thematic thread, let's analyze a list of imperialisms that exist today. Here I include neo-imperialist or modern forms, where control is exercised more through economy, cultural influence, sanctions, and indirect military interventions. Although direct interventions or classic territorial conquests are less common, they are not ruled out.
Imperialisms seek to extend their power over other countries, often for resources, markets, or geopolitics. You might see some of the following cases and have a different perspective. If so, I invite you to express it in the comments.
1. American Imperialism
It is perhaps the most well-known and rejected. And that's because the U.S. maintains global hegemony through more than 900 military bases in 80 countries. It has also carried out military interventions that have unleashed local and regional chaos (Afghanistan 2001-2021, Iraq 2003, Syria, Yemen). Additionally, its pressure through unilateral economic sanctions and the use of dollar hegemony as an economic weapon is harmful. It also provides support to allies like Israel in Gaza facilitating the genocide.
It can be qualified as a "hyper-imperialism" to contain rivals like China and Russia.
2. Russian Imperialism
Russia (or Putin) seeks to restore its influence in former Soviet republics through invasions (Ukraine since 2014, with the annexation of Crimea and full-scale war in 2022),or political, economic, and military control (Belarus, Georgia, Serbia, Armenia, Azerbaijan).
Russia made interventions in Syria (while Assad was there) and Africa (via Wagner mercenaries).
The russian power elite maintains the illusion of reviving the Tsarist/Soviet empire.
3. Chinese Imperialism
China exercises "neo-imperialism" via the Belt and Road Initiative, creating "debt traps" in nations like Laos, Djibouti, Maldives, Pakistan (control of Gwadar port for 40 years), Mongolia, and Tajikistan.
It finances (give loans) low-quality public works executed by Chinese companies in southern nations that end up indebted and with deficient infrastructure.
It has militarized the South China Sea (artificial islands despite international rulings), occupation of Tibet (1950), repression in Xinjiang (Uyghurs), and the "String of Pearls" to surround India with bases. A full-fledged economic-military expansion.
4. European Neo-Imperialism
The EU and former colonial powers (France, United Kingdom, Germany) maintain influence in Africa and Latin America via investments, asymmetric trade agreements, and military bases. They exploit resources and have caused deforestation, in addition to exporting agrochemicals prohibited for use in Europe.
They have lost geopolitical impact, but they are initiating rearmament due to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine and the lack of trust in the U.S. as a partner due to Trump's snubs.
5. Turkish Imperialism
It periodically invades and occupies parts of Syria and Iraq, supports Azerbaijan against Armenia, violates Greek sovereignty (the "Blue Homeland" doctrine in the Mediterranean), and occupies northern Cyprus (since 1974). It seeks influence in the Balkans and North Africa, reviving Ottoman nostalgia.
6. Iranian Imperialism
Iran exercises regional control via proxies (Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, militias in Iraq and Syria). It seeks hegemony against Saudi Arabia and Israel, including a nuclear program.
7. Corporate or Global Economic Imperialism
Multinationals (from the U.S., China, Europe) exploit resources in the Global South (deforestation, pollution, indigenous lands), via unregulated foreign investment. It includes environmental and labor neocolonialism, where rich powers impose unequal terms.
Final thoughts
Obviously, there is more depth in each case. The information is available on the Internet for anyone who wants to study and/or investigate further. The reality is that the current world is multipolar, with competition between ideological blocs and hegemonic powers.
A better world is possible, but apparently we are not interested in achieving it.
Image made with Grok