subimperialism
nounUK /sʌb.ɪmˈpɪə.ɹi.ə.lɪ.z(ə)m/ · US /sʌb.ɪmˈpɪ.ɹi.əˌlɪ.zəm/
Etymology PIE word *upó From sub- (prefix meaning ‘beneath, under; secondary, subsidiary’) + imperialism.
1
Government, Politics A form of imperialism (“policy of forcefully extending a nation's authority by territorial gain or by the establishment of economic and political dominance over other nations”) which is subordinate to another imperialist power.
- The revolt against "imperialism" has engendered a number of "subimperialisms." Egypt has ambitious plans of expansion which include the annexation of the Sudan and the suppression of Israel. India is determined to retain possession of Kashmir (the cause of ineradicable antagonism between her and Pakistan) and to annex the Portuguese territory (territory, not colony) of Goa.1956 September 30, F. A. Voight, “Soviet Colonialism”, in Soviet Total War: “Historic Mission” of Violence and Deceit (85th Congress, 1st Session, House Document; no. 227, part 2), volume II, Washington, D.C.: Committee on Un-American Activities, United States House of Representatives, →OCLC, page 554:
- Behind each experiment there was an important element of ‘sub-imperialism’. In West Africa, the Lagos merchants and Government became entangled in the Yoruba region. Sierra Leonians became involved in the northern rivers and some even looked to the interior of Soudan.1967, W[illiam] David McIntyre, “Mid-Victorian Imperialism: A Pragmatic Approach to Empire”, in The Imperial Frontier in the Tropics, 1865–75: A Study of British Colonial Policy in West Africa, Malaya and the South Pacific in the Age of Gladstone and Disraeli, London: Macmillan and Co.; New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →OCLC, page 380:
4 more examples
- And the situation is further complicated by the nascent or sub-imperialisms of the Indians and the Chinese, as shown for example by the dispute over Indonesian actions against Chinese traders.1971, W[illiam] Gordon East, O[skar] H[ermann] K[hristian] Spate, Charles A. Fisher, “Epilogue: The Unity of Asia?”, in W. Gordon East, O. H. K. Spate, Charles A. Fisher, editors, The Changing Map of Asia: A Political Geography, 5th edition, London: Methuen & Co […], →ISBN, page 640:
- The indications of Brazil's growing influence in Latin America, described in detail in this Report, have prompted a debate on the question of "subimperialism," the term commonly used to characterize Brazil's continental role.1975 May–June, NACLA-East, “Brazil: The Continental Strategy: Introduction”, in NACLA’s Latin America & Empire Report, volume IX, number 4, New York, N.Y.: North American Congress on Latin America, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3, column 1:
- The other [new force] was Cecil Rhodes' unlimited expansion to the north, a 'personal' sub-imperialism far transcending the traditional Cape goal of local paramountcy, but yet serving it: […]1975, G. N. Sanderson, “The European Partition of Africa: Coincidence or Conjuncture?”, in E[rnest] F[rancis] Penrose, editor, European Imperialism and the Partition of Africa, London; Portland, Or.: Frank Cass and Company, →ISBN, page 39:
- At this point, the French president [Valéry Giscard d'Estaing] took upon himself a well-known role that others before him, including [Adolf] Hitler, had already claimed—that of lawful defender of the so-called Western civilization. […] In fact, it is merely a question of French subimperialism being obliged to show a side it would prefer to keep hidden—its militaristic intervention.1978 June 14, “Editorial Criticizes France’s African Policy”, in [anonymous], transl., Translations on Sub-saharan Africa (JPRS; 71295), number 1947, Arlington, Va.: Joint Publications Research Service, →OCLC, page 51:
- Related terms
- subempire, subimperialist, subcolonial, subcolony