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History of the world economy - Polyak GB

25.3. Colonialism of the period of industrial capitalism

As a result of the industrial revolution, industrial civilization developed in the leading capitalist countries. The first role was put forward by industrial production.

Change in the colonial policy of the metropolis

Accordingly, the need for new types of goods, especially in raw materials, has also increased . The main role is now assigned to large industrialists, and not to trading companies, as it was in the previous period. Accordingly, the situation has changed in world trade. The importance of colonial goods has fallen, but the need for food, raw materials, dyes, construction wood, wool, cotton, ie, those goods that were particularly needed for the European developing industry, has increased. This led to a change in the nature of the relationship between colonies and metropolises. There was a need to export goods to the colony. The British bourgeoisie is reviewing foreign trade and colonial policies.

As a result, England's exports, mainly in the colony, have grown immeasurably. According to economists, in the first half of the XIX century. 64% of the English exports of cotton goods, 74% of beer, about 70% of soap and candles, about 60% of articles made of copper and brass, 43% of coal and coke, etc., were sent to the colony.

The colonial policy of England also changes. It is increasingly striving to turn vast colonial possessions into an appendage of its developing industry. Its policy is aimed at increasing the export of industrial goods in the colony, on the one hand, and ensuring the supply of raw materials from the colonies for its industry, on the other. Becoming in the middle of the XIX century. "Workshop of the world," England begins to export in the colony and capital, investing it primarily in the development of production.

In the XIX century. Trade and predatory methods, conducted in the colonies by the East India companies, are replaced by economic ones. There comes a period of exchange of goods between the metropolitan countries and colonies. The colonies were drawn into the world commodity circulation, becoming participants in the world market. Using their industrial superiority, the capitalist countries greatly increase the export of their goods to the colony. Only 20 years (from 1794 to 1813), exports of Britain, mainly to India, only cotton goods increased by 700 times.

The colonies become agrarian and raw material appendages of the metropolitan countries, suppliers of raw materials and auxiliary materials for industry, food for the growing urban population. In the colony, ready-made fabrics, metalware, semi-finished products and other goods were sent. Thus, in 1870 the structure of Indian exports consisted of 36% of raw cotton, 21% from opium, 12% from cereals, 4% from jute, etc. Cotton fabrics occupied only 2% Jute products - 0.5% of India's exports. At the same time, 45% of the country's imports consisted of cotton fabrics, 8% of yarn, 13% of metal products (including rails for railways) and only 2% of cars, mainly for processing raw materials. It is clear that almost 85% of the goods were imported to India from the metropolis.

The role of colonies in the economic development of metropolitan countries

In the new historical conditions, the role of the colonies in the economic development of the metropolises is growing significantly. The possession of colonies contributed to industrial development, military superiority over other powers, maneuvering resources in the event of wars, economic crises, etc. In this regard, all the colonial powers seek to expand their holdings. The increased technical equipment of the armies makes it possible to realize this. It was at this time that the "discoveries" of Japan and China were taking place, the establishment of the colonial rule of the British in India, Burma, Africa was coming to an end, France, Algeria, Tunisia, Vietnam and other countries were taking over France, Germany's expansion into Africa began, the United States began in Latin America, China, Korea, Japan, China, Korea, etc.

At the same time, the struggle of the metropolitan countries for the possession of colonies, sources of raw materials, strategic positions in the East is intensifying.