The political economy of imperialism, decolonization, and development

Erik Gartzke and Dominic Rohner

No 466, IEW - Working Papers from Institute for Empirical Research in Economics - University of Zurich

Abstract: Nations have historically sought power and prosperity through control of physical space. In recent decades, however, territorial empire has largely ceased. Most states that can take and hold territory no longer appear eager to do so, while the weak are unable to expand. Have powerful countries become 'kinder and gentler', or has something fundamental changed about the logic of empire? We offer a theory of imperialism and decolonization that explains both historic cycles of expansion and decline and the demise of the urge to colonize. Technological shocks enable expansion, while military technology gradually disseminates, diluting imperial advantage. At the same time, economic development has led to a secular decline in the payoffs for appropriating land, minerals, and reluctant labor. Once conquest no longer pays for great powers, the systemic imperative to vertically integrate production also becomes archaic.

Keywords: Imperialism; decolonization; development; democracy; mercantilism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 N40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-pke and nep-pol
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Journal Article: The Political Economy of Imperialism, Decolonization and Development (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zur:iewwpx:466

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