Imperialism (Hobson)
Encyclopedia
Imperialism: A Study was a political-economic discourse written by John A. Hobson
in 1902.
The "taproot of imperialism" is not found in nationalistic pride
, but capitalist oligarchy. Hobson argued that imperialism is unnecessary and immoral; seeing imperialism as a result of the maldistribution of wealth in a capitalist
society that created a desire to spread markets in search of profit.
This work gained Hobson an international reputation. It influenced such notable thinkers as Bukharin, Lenin, and Hannah Arendt
. In particular Lenin drew heavily from Hobson's work in producing his seminal Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism
(1916).
The full text of Imperialism is available online:
John A. Hobson
John Atkinson Hobson , commonly known as John A. Hobson or J. A. Hobson, was an English economist and critic of imperialism, widely popular as a lecturer and writer.-Life:...
in 1902.
The "taproot of imperialism" is not found in nationalistic pride
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, but capitalist oligarchy. Hobson argued that imperialism is unnecessary and immoral; seeing imperialism as a result of the maldistribution of wealth in a capitalist
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
society that created a desire to spread markets in search of profit.
This work gained Hobson an international reputation. It influenced such notable thinkers as Bukharin, Lenin, and Hannah Arendt
Hannah Arendt
Hannah Arendt was a German American political theorist. She has often been described as a philosopher, although she refused that label on the grounds that philosophy is concerned with "man in the singular." She described herself instead as a political theorist because her work centers on the fact...
. In particular Lenin drew heavily from Hobson's work in producing his seminal Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism
Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism
Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism , by Lenin, describes the function of financial capital in generating profits from imperial colonialism, as the final stage of capitalist development to ensure greater profits...
(1916).
The full text of Imperialism is available online:
See also
- World-systems theory
- ImperialismImperialismImperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
- LeninismLeninismIn Marxist philosophy, Leninism is the body of political theory for the democratic organisation of a revolutionary vanguard party, and the achievement of a direct-democracy dictatorship of the proletariat, as political prelude to the establishment of socialism...
- Theories of New ImperialismTheories of New ImperialismThe term imperialism was used from the third quarter of the nineteenth century to describe various forms of political control by a greater power over less powerful territories or nationalities, although analytically the phenomena which it denotes may differ greatly from each other and from the...