The crucial focus for this week, examines the reasons, justifications and horror of imperialism and colonialism.  The supplemental material found on the left-hand side of the weekly section will provide further insight.

Speciifically, the novelist JosephConrad painted the evil of the Belgian Congon during the reign of King Leopold  Even staunch supporters of Social Darwinism  and the idea of the White Man’s Burden winced at what took place in the Congo. However,  they missed Conrad’s contention. The very participation by Europeans in imperialism and colonialism eroded human morality, and would lay the groundwork for future horrible events.

There are two fundamental questions. First, why did the Europeans engage in a global race to dominate the peoples of the world? The demand for raw material, cheap labor and creation of economic derpendency  fueled this race for global domination. One of the later arrivals to imperialism and colonialism, was the United States. Prior to the 1890’s the United States was wary of global ventures. However, fear of being shut off from the overseas markets and being dependent upon Europeans for materials/goods changed the nation’s stance.  Thereby,  the 1890’s witnessed justification for US entry to imperialism from Alfred Thayer Mahan’s argument that naval power determined global authority, and Frderick Jackson Turner’s “frontier thesis” which argued the United States’ purpose was change the world into a democracy.

In short, whether it be Social Darwinism, White Man’s Burden, or the Frontier Thesis the Western  Powers constructed philosophical justifications to exploit. What each of us need to come to terms with is whether these events eventually helped modernized the world  and the conditions of its inhabitants?

Offer an analysis of one of the articles included in the following articles: Conrad or Science Fiction. Do you think the article offers a valid interpretation of the content offered in the current or previous chapters? Use an example to support your viewpoint.

https://lithub.com/how-heart-of-darkness-revealed-the-horror-of-congos-rubber-trade/

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/04/why-sci-fi-keeps-imagining-the-enslavement-of-white-people/361173/

at least (2) professional references, one may be the course textbook, properly cited in the current APA format.