Because History Repeats Itself

Karl Marx once stated that, “history repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.”  Indeed, history not only repeated itself, but outdid itself as around the globe, nation after nation pursued the vicious cycle of colonization: from the limited and purely economic benefits of colonialism to the intense political, economic, social, and military involvement of imperialism.  In both eras, conquering nations quickly discerned and developed more efficient forms of conquest and exploitation in order to secure their interests, from which patterns have emerged across centuries.  Similarly, members of colonies and empires around the globe also developed means to strip themselves of the oppressive shroud of colonization as they fought, both peacefully and violently, for the one thing that their colonizers had forgotten that they too once fought for: freedom.

A desire for gain and power has long fueled the conquest of other nations.  Many similar trends surface and repeat, from South America, to Africa, to the Middle East, to Asia.  These trends can be traced back to the extroverted nature of the conquering nations during both the colonialist and imperialist eras.  Originating in England, industrialization quickly spread, but only to the nations open to receiving change.  Isolated, introverted, or unexposed nations who wished to preserve their ancient, traditional identity were unwilling to accept foreign ideas and were subsequently susceptible to foreign infringement, whose advancement would easily overtake “primitive” technology.  Therefore, the most common form of conquest was military dominance coupled with advanced technology, chiefly (but not always) developed during the industrial revolution.  Conquistadores such as Hernan Cortez made great use of this tactic throughout South America.  Through the use of superior weaponry, Cortez was able to penetrate and corrupt traditional Aztec culture and lifestyle.  With the threat of death or enslavement, both of which he was entirely capable due to his military strength, the Aztecs had no choice but to submit themselves to Spanish reign.  Korea was another nation which had fallen behind technologically due to its isolationist policy, which proved to be a crippling effect in a world whose inhabitants continuously strove for superiority.  Utterly unprepared to face a powerful force such as Japan, Korea quickly fell under its control.  Many imperialists also depended upon internal division or struggle to obtain control, as they assumed the role of righteous mediator or supporter of righteous rule within the territory.  The British used the former method to obtain control over India after the collapse of the Mogul Empire.  As Britain strategically assisted the disputing kings across the nation, their power spread and eventually encompassed the entire territory.  An example of the latter method took place in Rwanda, where both German and Belgian administrative forces ruled indirectly through the ruling party, allowing them to strengthen their own control over the country through a familiar instead of foreign ruling class.

Colonizing nations also employed tactics within their colonies that would maximize the benefits that the country could yield.  Although it took on a less invasive role through colonialism than imperialism, foreign involvement in other nations almost always disregarded the common good, especially that of the native population.  The most aggressive cases of control and exploitation of the native population came through the motive of economic profit.  In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the forced production of cash crops throughout the nation resulted in a policy of the violent reinforcement of foreign rule.  The Congolese people worked as full time slaves, growing rubber instead of crops that would be used as sustenance.  Additionally, Belgian King Leopold held many families hostage to ensure diligent work and would cut off the hands of those who refused to work.  A similar case also formed in Egypt as Britain imposed the production of profitable goods such as cotton.  In these cases and many others, the common people suffered the most under colonial or imperialistic rule, as their un-repaid labor was instrumental in ensuring the economic success of their colonizer.  The acquisition and control of valuable resources, not only for themselves but also for the native population, served as a strong motive.  For example, when the British conquered Nigeria, they strategically seized control over the palm oil trade, a prized and valuable item.  Possessing this considerable form of influence on the Nigerian population, the British were soon able to conquer the territory in order to acquire the resources they sought, such as cocoa, cotton, hardwood, palm oil, peanuts, and tin.  Although conquering nations specifically planned to achieve economic profit through colonial submission, geared the acquisition of land toward the formation of a mighty empire, and produced many negative effects throughout the world, many colonized nations received long-term material, educational, and transportational improvements.  For example, the Spanish built roads, schools, cathedrals, and missionaries throughout the Dominican Republic, Belgians established schools, mines, and railroads throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Germans established government buildings, roads, and schools in Rwanda, only a few examples of overall public, social improvements that colonization presented.

The declaration and acquisition of independence was the final step in the cycle of colonization, as around the globe, country after country sought the right to govern itself.  This transformation proved itself to be inevitable – the extreme imbalance in power between the native population and the conquerors served as a vital piece of motivation: nations wanted to seek their own prosperity.  For example, in the Indian independence movement, a boycott of all British goods known as the Swadeshi Movement enabled Indians to support the local economy instead of the East India Company.  This shift in support assisted its peaceful transition into a free nation.  The desire for independence is also commonly fueled by the oppressed working class, despite a lack of power and access to money.  In Rwanda, the Hutu majority socially fell beneath the Tutsi minority, which both Belgium and Germany fervently supported.  As an oppressed minority, the Hutu eventually summoned the power to violently overthrow the unjust rule in their nation.  Haiti also experienced a similar uprising as Haitian slaves led the only successful slave revolt in history after their French conquerors mercilessly subjected them to long work days, a lack of sanitation, and extreme poverty.  Lastly, independence is inevitable because a common desire coupled with unity cannot fail.  One example of the many is Zimbabwe’s road to independence.  Zimbabwe’s first few attempts to achieve independence during the First Chimurenga or the “War of Liberation” failed because of the lack of a united front.  However, after the formation of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union, liberation became an achievable goal.

History never fails to repeat itself.  Consecutive cycles of conquest, suppression, bloodshed, and eventual liberation have plagued the globe for centuries.  As the human race continues in its attempt to be all powerful and wealthy, unable to grasp the lessons that example has tried to teach, one begins to contemplate the true motives of war and “righteous intervention” in foreign nations.  But even as countries struggle to surpass and control each other politically, economically, and militarily, they continuously forget the single most important fact about the human condition: no power, money, country, or strength can ever suppress the human will to be free.