At the recent UN General Assembly, several countries accused the Russian president of imperialism (eg, 2022 invasion of Ukraine). It has been a long way for Russia: from imperialism to communism to nationalism and back to imperialism. I presume Putin will be proud of being called an imperialist.
The countries accusing Russia of imperialism know what they are talking about as both are former imperialists (ie, France, Germany). Moreover, both countries invaded Russia (ie, 1812 vs 1941) like Russia is invading Ukraine in 2022. Hence, it takes one to know one (eg, phrases, Wiki).
My diagram is a simplification of the complex political trends of several centuries:
- until c.1760 imperialism
- Industrial Revolution (1760 to c.1840)
- 1760-1840: Capitalism
- 1840-1940: Labour-Left versus Conservative Right
- German nationalism resulting in WWII (1939-1945)
- 1950-today: Globalism vs Nationalism
- 2014-onwards: back to imperialism (eg, 2014 Crimea, 2022 Ukraine, 20xx Chinese reunification with Taiwan)
My diagram is (currently) using federalism as the “opposite” term for imperialism. The key difference is the degree of voluntarism. Imperialism is a forced upon by (military) power. Federalism is voluntary cooperation. However, both aim to strengthen their competition with other powers.
In my view, that (future) federalism can already be witnessed in the international sanctions against (imperial) Russia. Allegedly, it has prevented China from supporting Russia. Iran (eg, drones) and North Korea (eg, ammunition) are having less scrupules with supporting Russia. Both have nothing to lose.
The European Union is another example of voluntary cooperation or federalism. In my view, this project would (finally) fail once the EU would make a power grab by proposing a merger, similar to the constitutional federal republic of the United States of America.
“My general plan would be to make the states one as to every thing connected with foreign nations, and several as to every thing purely domestic. But with all the imperfections of our present government, it is without comparison the best existing or that ever did exist.”
A quote by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third president of the United States (1801-1809).
It’s A Long Way There (1976) by Little River Band
band, lyrics, video, Wiki-band, Wiki-song
And it’s a long way there
It’s a long way to where I’m going
And it’s a long way there
It’s a long way to where I’m going
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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