If you’ve studied history, you have probably read about Colonization, which is the practice of large, powerful countries invading smaller countries and taking social and economic power over them. Most famously, the British colonies in America colonizing indigenous tribes’ homes and ruining their lives. Colonization is not about exploration, it is about domination, and it started much earlier than American history.
Imperialism is defined as expanding a country’s power and influence with military force. In school, this act isn’t described nearly as forcefully and is phrased as 🌈globalization🌈 which is essentially the same concept. Colonization is a homicidal expedition. For example, the Black Plague, which killed 25 million people or half of Europe’s population, was brought over by exploration and trade from Asian countries. We are still seeing the negative effects of colonization with the spread of Western Beauty standards. Colonial ideology erases cultural practices.
Decolonization is the process of leaving these states and undoing the domination that one nation holds over another and while superficially, it seems to be the best option for the country, it still has detrimental effects. Decolonization causes instability of political and economic systems which are the basic structures of any society. The ethnocentrism that Colonizers have takes away basic human rights and leaves natives of that land to try to pick up the pieces.
Other Sources:
The Effects of Decolonization in Africa
Women, Gender, and Colonialism