Comparing imperialisms

Comparing imperialisms

Some folks treat imperialism and capitalism as identical. However, there was
imperialism before capitalism, so that one may be allowed to compare
imperialisms by themselves. In any case, some observers have seen a parallel
between present U.S.-American imperialism and Hitlerism. However, from a
perspective of comparative imperialism studies, that is incorrect and it
would be more valid to point out a parallel with Napoleonic imperialism.
While both the Hitlerist and the Napoleonic imperialisms engaged in conquest
and oppression and were extremely militaristic, there was the important
difference in ideologies. Ideologies matter. The Hitlerist imperialism
implemented a racist ideology, leading to exterminism. Napoleonic
imperialism was spreading liberty, egality, fraternity with bayonets and
cannonades, leading to oppression, but not to exterminism. Napoleonic
imperialism also lead to some modernization in old Europe. At present, the
United States are contemplating war in Iraq with the publicized goal of
freeing the Iraqi people from their dictator and spreading democracy
throughout the Middle East later. That is similar to the Napoleonic agenda
or to the traditional "mission civilisatrice" of French imperialism, as far
as the ideology of imperialism is concerned.

Gernot Köhler