How Did the Non-western World Respond to Western Power? Essay Example

How did the non-Western world respond to Western power?  Discuss the impact of imperialism on and evaluate resistance to Western Imperialism in Ottoman Empire, Imperial China, and Latin America regions.

European imperialism was a period of significant and damaging power dynamics between the nations of Europe, namely Britain, France and others, and their colonies spanning the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania (Headrick, 2012). The impact on these regions was multifaceted; economically through unequal resource extraction and political control, socially through disruption to traditional values and identity, and culturally through the introduction of foreign customs and language. The non-Western world responded to Western power differently, depending on their cultural and political background (Acharya & Buzan, 2009). In this essay, I will be exploring the varying responses from the Ottoman Empire, Imperial China and Latin America to European imperialism and evaluating the resistance movements that arose against this imperialistic.

Latin America

The response of Latin America to Western Imperialism was one of both submission and resistance. The Spanish and Portuguese colonial powers significantly influenced the region, introducing new forms of government, religion and culture which eventually became the norm (Blackburn, 1998). Despite this, there was widespread discontent among the local population due to their lack of autonomy and political representation. This led to numerous uprisings and revolts, such as the Haitian Revolution of 1791-1804, which eventually overthrew French colonial rule. Throughout the 19th century, there were further movements of resistance against European imperialism, often led by local figures such as Simon Bolivar, who sought to liberate Latin America from foreign domination (Simon, 2012). This eventually resulted in the independence of various Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Argentina, in 1821. Although these struggles were largely successful, there was still dissatisfaction among the people due to the economic and political inequality that persisted even after independence. This discontent led to further resistance movements throughout the 20th century, such as the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which aimed to overthrow the repressive Porfirio Diaz regime. The Cuban Revolution of 1959 also resulted in the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista’s dictatorship and established a socialist government that remains in power today (Wright, 2001). These movements demonstrate the resistance against foreign rule and imperialism, even after achieving independence.

Further resistance to Western Imperialism can be seen in the region’s opposition to US intervention during the Cold War. Latin American countries such as Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala experienced US-backed military coups during this period, leading to significant human rights abuses and economic hardship. In response, many Latin Americans formed resistance movements against US interference in their region, often taking on a leftist or socialist ideology (Molyneux, 2016). This period of unrest and resistance culminated in the Sandinista Revolution of 1979, which overthrew the Somoza regime in Nicaragua and established a progressive government that sought to end US intervention in Latin America.

Throughout Latin America, there has been a long history of submission and resistance to Western Imperialism. While many countries were forced to submit to colonial rule and economic exploitation, there have also been movements of resistance that have sought to liberate the region from foreign domination. These struggles demonstrate the strength and determination of Latin Americans in the face of adversity and their commitment to securing a better future for their people (Gill, 2004). They have overcome foreign interference and achieve greater autonomy in their region by working together. This has been an important victory for Latin Americans, reminding them of their strength and resilience in facing oppression. Not only is this an important lesson for the world, but it serves as a shining example that foreign exploitation can be overcome by people uniting.

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire quickly recognized the threat posed by European imperialism and initially adopted a policy of defensive isolationism (Bloxham, 2005). This included strengthening their military forces and suppressing internal revolts such as those led by Ali Pasha, an Albanian warlord who sought to establish his autonomous state in 1820. However, this policy did not prove successful, and by the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire had become increasingly dependent on European powers for modernization and reform (Horowitz, 2004). The Tanzimat reforms of the mid-19th century saw a restructuring of the state’s bureaucracy, military and judicial system to create a more modern, westernized society (Demira?, 2005). These reforms were met with mixed reactions; some welcomed the positive changes and embraced the new orientalist way of life, while others saw it as a cultural invasion by European powers.

Despite this acceptance of reform, there was also widespread resistance to European imperialism across the Ottoman Empire in the form of anti-colonial movements. One example is the Young Turk movement, a political reformist group that sought to restore Ottoman sovereignty. This led to the restoration of Sultan Abdulhamid II in 1909 and an end to European interference in Ottoman affairs (Moumdjian, 2012). However, these efforts were short-lived due to the outbreak of World War I and the subsequent dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.

Imperial China

The response of Imperial China to European imperialism was one of both submission and resistance. The Manchu rulers saw the arrival of Europeans as an opportunity to make technological advances, leverage trading opportunities and gain access to new markets. However, this attitude of cooperation soon changed when Britain used the Opium War to force China into submission and demonstrate the superiority of its military forces (Carter, 1990). This led to further humiliation as European powers used unequal treaties to gain control of Chinese resources, technology and trade. The local population formed resistance movements against foreign rule in response to this subjugation. The Taiping Rebellion was one example; it was led by Hong Xiuquan, who sought to overthrow the Manchu dynasty to establish a new Christian government (Carter, 1990). This particular rebellion failed, but it did demonstrate the determination of Chinese people to resist foreign rule even in the face of extreme adversity.

For example, the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 was also a form of resistance against European imperialism. Despite the failure of this rebellion, it demonstrated the deep-rooted anti-imperial sentiment among the Chinese people and served as an important symbol for future generations. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) also rose to prominence in the early 20th century as a form of resistance against foreign rule (Carter, 1990). The CCP succeeded in its efforts and eventually overthrowing the Manchu dynasty and establishing the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

Conclusion

Overall, it is clear that the response of Latin America to Western Imperialism was one of both submission and resistance. The region experienced centuries of foreign domination but saw numerous movements seeking to overthrow this rule and establish autonomy. This resistance has been successful in many cases, resulting in the independence of various countries and the establishment of more equitable political systems. Despite this, there is still a sense of dissatisfaction among the population due to continued economic and political inequality. This resistance continues today and is an important reminder of the importance of fighting for autonomy and self-determination.

References

Acharya, A., & Buzan, B. (2009). Why is there no non-Western international relations theory? An introduction. In Non-Western international relations theory (pp. 11-35). Routledge.

Blackburn, R. (1998). The making of New World slavery: from the Baroque to the Modern, 1492-1800. Verso.

Bloxham, D. (2005). The great game of genocide: Imperialism, nationalism, and the destruction of the Ottoman Armenians. OUP Oxford.

Carter, H. R. (1990). The opium war in China: An analysis of Great Britain’s use of war as an element of power. Army War Coll Carlisle Barracks Pa.

Demira?, Y. (2005). Pan-ideologies in the Ottoman empire against the West: from pan-Ottomanism to pan-Turkism. The Turkish Yearbook of International Relations, (36), 139-158.

Gill, L. (2004). The school of the Americas: military training and political violence in the Americas. Duke University Press.

Headrick, D. R. (2012). Power over peoples: Technology, environments, and Western imperialism, 1400 to the present (Vol. 41). Princeton University Press.

Horowitz, R. S. (2004). International law and state transformation in China, Siam, and the Ottoman Empire during the nineteenth century. Journal of World History, 445-486.

Molyneux, M. (2016). Women’s movements in international perspective: Latin America and beyond. Springer.

Moumdjian, G. K. (2012). Struggling for a Constitutional Regime: Armenian-Young Turk Relations in the Era of Abdulhamid II, 1895–1909. University of California, Los Angeles.

Pyenson, L. (1982). Cultural Imperialism and Exact Sciences: German Expansion Overseas 1900–1930. History of science, 20(1), 1-43.

Simon, J. (2012). Simon Bolívar’s republican imperialism: Another ideology of american revolution. History of Political Thought, 33(2), 280-304.

Wright, T. C. (2001). Latin America in the era of the Cuban Revolution. Greenwood Publishing Group.