Western Imperialism and influence in Asia and Africa Essay

Western Imperialism and influence in Asia and Africa - Essay Example The roaring and booming industrial revolution in the West was hungry for raw material and markets. In such a scenario, the natural resources rich and well-populated land mass of Asia furnished answers to some of the most pressing Western economic problems and challenges. The path to rampant colonialism was initiated by resorting to a tactics of indirect administration, where the local elitist and vested interests in the respective countries were coerced or enticed into conniving with the Western regimes to pursue a policy of blatant economic and human exploitation. This not only deepened the class conflicts in the Asian societies, but also led to the degradation of the native cultures and traditions. The ex-colonialists tend to boast that they brought technology and education to Asia. However, the reality was that this so-called introduction of civilization in Asia was more of a tool to assist and streamline the job of European administrators and corporations. Africa during the genesis of Western imperialism did not seem so lucrative to the European powers in a commercial context, except being a breeding ground for cheap black salves and a strategic post to control and manage some of the most important trade routes.