Imperialism Essay:
World Powers and Imperialism
Base your essay off of the two complementary definitions of imperialism provided below. The first is from our Module 2 reading Imperialism 101 by Michael Parenti: “By “imperialism” I mean the process whereby the dominant politicoeconomic interests of one nation expropriate for their own enrichment the land, labor, raw materials, and markets of another people.” The second is from another world history textbook entitled Traditions and Encounters. Historians Jerry Bentley and Herb Ziegler write, “ . . . imperialism refers to the domination of European powers—and later the United States and Japan as well—over subject lands in the larger world. Sometimes this domination came in the old fashioned way, by force of arms, but often it arose from trade, investment, and business activities that enabled imperial powers to profit from subject societies and influence their affairs without going to the trouble of exercising direct political control.” The purpose of this paper is to give you an opportunity to think further about how world powers (nation-states and/or empires) influenced other nations and people, to deepen your understanding of the notion of imperialism, and to explore resistance to imperialism. You will also cultivate your ability to focus on a specific topic, to develop ideas thoroughly, and to analyze and synthesize appropriate sources. Using the resources below, you will craft a well-written essay in the form of a unified narrative of 4 to 5 pages in length. Your focus will be on imperialism in general and will use the example of British Imperialism in Asia (India or China) as the topic of analysis. Your essay must focus on the time period between 1800 and 1918. Within that framework, you are free to focus on the world power(s), time period(s) and spheres of influence you choose (i.e., you don’t have to cover everything). Be sure to state the time period of examination, the regional focus and the purpose of your paper in your thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph of your paper. See the paper breakdown on the next page… Paper breakdown: • Part I: Introduction o Provide an introduction to the time period, region and process(es) that you will be considering. o Provide an analytical thesis statement at the end of the introduction that explains what you will focus on and why? • Part II: Define imperialism and significant moments in its historical development (1 Page) o Who is primarily involved? o What differentiated old and new imperialism? o How is energy relevant to new imperialism? o What specific technological developments were used to expand the reach of empire during the Victorian era? • Part III: Choose one specific critique and judge the merits of the critic’s argument against the evidence from the class. Also, clearly describe why you agree or disagree with it. (~1 Page) • Part IV: Use the Davis readings (Ch. 10 OR 11) to describe the impact of imperialism. (~1.5 pages) o What does Davis add to contemporary understandings of world history? o How does Davis explain imperialism’s role in the “Creation of the Third World?” o How does your chosen chapter (China or India) fit within the broader discussion of imperialism, the industrial revolution, and its consequences on world history? (most of this section will focus on your chosen chapter) • Part V: Then use resources from the primary source databases hyperlinked below to support your argument. You must use at least two primary sources and clearly introduce them in the text of the document. (~1 pages) • Part VI: Conclusion o The conclusion should relate back to the thesis statement and clearly convey why your analysis contributed to a better understanding of global history. Sources: Sources for Part II: In addition to the definitions on page 1 of this assignment, please use any of the course material to expand on your definition and description of imperialism as a global system. Sources for Part III: Please first review the “Theories of Empire” link, found here: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pol116/imperial.htm This website provides a broad overview of some significant theories on empire (formulated in the early twentieth century). I have also provided web links to a number of influential critiques of empire during this period below. For Part III of the imperialism essay, please choose one of the major critiques of empire (or nationalism in the case of Tagore) and describe why you think it is the most appropriate in describing the shortcomings of empire (or nationalism). As mentioned above, this will require you to draw on the expertise that you have developed over the entirety of the course in order to make a compelling argument as to why your chosen critique/theory/theorist provided the most compelling case. Make sure to introduce the author and describe the main elements of the critique before analyzing it in relation to the course material. • John Hobson, Imperialism,https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1902hobson.asp (Links to an external site.) • Lenin on Imperialism, https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1916leninimperialism.asp (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) • Orwell, Shooting an Elephant, http://orwell.ru/library/articles/elephant/english/e_eleph (Links to an external site.) • Tagore, Nationalism in the West, http://tagoreweb.in/Render/ShowContent.aspx?ct=Essays&bi=72EE92F5-BE50-40D7- 8E6E-0F7410664DA3&ti=72EE92F5-BE50-4A47-0E6E-0F7410664DA3 (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) • Rebecca Karl on Liang Quichao, https://www.viewpointmag.com/2018/02/01/rulesdestroying-countries-china-colonial-world-early-20th-century/ Sources for Part V: Primary Source Databases (Most are through the ASU Library and will require your login credentials). • British Library Newspapers (ASU Library Research Databases) • Nineteenth Century UK Periodicals (ASU Library ResearchDatabases) • Fordham University’s Internet East Asian History Sourcebook https:// sourcebooks.fordham.edu/eastasia/eastasiasbook.asp • Fordham University’s “Asia Since 1900” https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/modsbook52.asp • Fordham University’s “Internet Indian HistorySourcebook” https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/india/indiasbook.asp • Any of Fordham University’s Sourcebook’s documents https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/index.asp Requirements: • ~4-5 pages • Double spaced pages–Standard 1” margins—Times New Roman 12 pt font—Center your title • Place Name, Date, Class/Section Number in top left-hand corner • Students must use at least 2 primary sources from the pre-approved digital archive/databases listed below. No more than one image/artifact/map. • Other secondary source material can be drawn from the course material. • Citations: Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition. This differs from the parenthetical citations that we have used up to this point and must include a full citation of the primary sources, including web links, in footnote format (found under “references” in Word), “like this.”1 For general citation format instructions see: o https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html o https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/c mos_formatting_and_style_guide/chicago_manual_of_style_17th_edition.html Helpful Hints: • Remember, a response should be based on YOUR analysis! Only use source material listed above to support your analysis. • Avoid extended quotations; but any material you do use (direct quote, paraphrase, etc.) must be cited and credited using the Chicago Manual of Style format. • Thesis Statement – you must have a thesis statement that makes an original argument located at the end of the introduction. For further information on analytical thesis statements, please see the thesis statement resources below: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/ • Evidence – your paper must utilize examples from the primary sources to support your argument. This evidence must be cited properly (see citation instructions above). If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please contact me. Further explanation of ASU’s plagiarism policy can also be found through the ASU Website. 1 [Citation format for website/database primary sources] Document author if available, “Document title and date,” primary source database title, date accessed, web link. Final Essay Grade Rubric 10 9.5 9 8.5 8 7 6.5> Excellent Effective Adequate Promising Undeveloped Poor Lacking A. Introduction/Thesis a. Intro paragraph: identifies date range, source material, and provides context/perspective ____ b. Thesis statement: answers question and provides road map for content of paper _____ B. Contextualization a. Use of source material/texts demonstrates understanding of historical context and significance _____ b. Use of source material/texts demonstrates the ability to use information to support critical analysis and provide evidence for the thesis statement _____ C. Analysis a. Demonstration of clear, original, analysis. Paper looks below surface of text to engage with key themes _____ b. Organization: the paper is effectively organized to clearly communicate ideas and demonstrate a logical flow of analysis and argument _____ D. Conclusion a. Effectively restates/ties back to thesis statement _____ b. Major argument/questions have been effectively answered and proven _____ E. Technical writing criteria a. Sentence structure, grammar: clear, demonstration of attention to detail _____ b. Nuts and Bolts: material is properly cited, properly used, and paper meets minimum page requirement _____
