The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire

The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire
The British Empire at the peak of its power. By the 1900, Great Britain oversaw an Empire that covered more then 33,700,000 km2 (A)

Friday, March 16, 2012

Democracy and its Roots


In protection of markets and sources of raw material, European Empires established several colonies within foreign territories. Colonialists were notorious for their unfair-treatment of natives and their repression of cultures.  Lands were ravaged, resources stolen; the effects of colonialism were detrimental to both the society and its economy. The pillaging of countries continued for decades, and with it grew the resentment natives bore for their foreign conquerors. After centuries of oppression and enslavement, there was an immense growth in colonial lust for self-rule. This suppression of freedom helped in the creation of several liberty-loving states, and established the bases for the political system we now know as democracy.
            Methods of coercion were instrumental in the creation of a complaint colony. The methods differed from state to state but each were able to both exhibit European dominance, as well aid in the greatening the hatred bore by natives. In the case of the Congolese, Belgium colonist severed the limbs of those reluctant to cooperate. Public displays of violence instilled feared into the Congolian populace, and those who were originally hesitant, yielded. The methods, though gruesome simply greatened the hate natives bore for their conqueror, and added to the want of self-rule. It is this very hate crafted the pathway to independence, and give birth to the revolutionaries that would help individual colonies secure independence. Democracy was chosen by many as an suitable political system and was adopted by many former colonies upon securing liberation. The message advocated by democrats and the prosperity natives hoped democracy would bring lead to one of the many unforeseen consequence to Imperialism: the establishment of Democratic states within several former colonies. 
            Liberty and freedom; these words were frequently used in speeches advocating independence. For nations who have not tasted the fruit of liberty in centuries, self-rule simply grew to be more desirable. The twentieth century provided an opportunity for independence for several states. Weakened by conflict such as WW2, European powers were forced to focus on rebuilding economically and unable support their foreign bureaucracies. Instability within Europe leads to the liberation of several colonies, including India, Vietnam and Chile. After generations of foreign regulations and restriction, Imperialism provided a new perspective for what colonies knew then as government. Introduced to several new political systems by their European colonizers, many former colonies established democracies in hopes of creating a lasting era of self-rule.
            Although the repression of freedom caused by colonization led to the establishment of several democratic states within former colonies. Time has however corrupted the political base of several states. The government within these countries is no longer characterized by its wiliness to serve the people, but by the want of individual prosperity. Although democracy has failed numerous states, the American government is one that continues to prosper, undeterred by corruption. Does democracy’s failure within foreign states foreshadow an American downfall?

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