18. What is economic imperialism? How is this different from the imperialism practiced in the 1450 to 1750 time period?

Economic imperialism refers to a situation where a powerful country exerts significant economic influence or control over weaker countries or regions, often through indirect means such as trade, investment, and economic pressure, rather than direct political or military control. This can involve the exploitation of natural resources, labor, and markets in the weaker countries to the benefit of the more powerful country.<br /><br />The imperialism practiced in the 1450 to 1750 time period, often referred to as "traditional" or "political" imperialism, involved the direct political and military control of one country over another. This was typically achieved through colonization, where the imperial power would establish settlements, govern the territory, and extract resources and labor from the colonized region.<br /><br />The key differences between economic imperialism and traditional imperialism are:<br /><br />1. Means of control: Traditional imperialism relied on direct political and military control, while economic imperialism uses economic power and influence to exert control.<br /><br />2. Degree of control: Economic imperialism may involve less direct control over the political and social structures of the weaker country, compared to the comprehensive control in traditional imperialism.<br /><br />3. Motivations: Economic imperialism is often driven by economic interests and the desire for access to resources and markets, while traditional imperialism was motivated by a combination of political, strategic, and ideological factors.<br /><br />4. Resistance and backlash: Economic imperialism can be more difficult to resist, as it is often embedded in the global economic system, whereas traditional imperialism faced more overt resistance and opposition.<br /><br />Overall, economic imperialism represents a more subtle and pervasive form of imperialism that has become more prevalent in the modern era, as the world has become increasingly interconnected and interdependent economically.