Colonialism

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Describes the spirit with which countries in Europe, North America and elsewhere set about to possess or "colonize" many places in other parts of the world. It often included imposing government and business practices in a way that benefited those doing the colonizing. In fairness to the colonizers, the process did provide employment and infrastructure through the building of roads, communication, western educational systems and other things which still benefit so-called Third World countries today. In fairness to the victims of colonialism, despite all of the many benefits brought to peoples in the colonized lands, the greatest damage was the loss of human capital - millions of people who internalized the view that they were inferior and had depend on the colonizers for their existence and flourishing. The Christian church in many parts of the world still suffers from this mentality.

• See also Colonization

• See also Opium War