Membel
German NOUN C1 Rank 13493

der Kolonialismus

colonialism

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Meanings

01

der Kolonialismus

colonialism

A policy or practice in which a state gains political control over another country, occupies it, and exploits it economically. It is a concept from history and politics.

example

Die Aufarbeitung der Geschichte des Kolonialismus ist für viele Nationen bis heute ein wichtiges Thema.

Coming to terms with the history of colonialism remains an important issue for many nations today.

Visual example for Kolonialismus: der Kolonialismus

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Kolonialismus vs Imperialismus

imperialism

'der Imperialismus' and 'der Kolonialismus' both belong to history and politics and describe power over other countries or peoples. 'Imperialismus' is the broader term: a state wants to expand its political, military, or economic influence. This can happen through colonies, but also through pressure, control, or economic dependence. 'Kolonialismus' is more specific: a state occupies or directly controls another territory and exploits it economically. The words can be confused because European great powers often practiced both. As a simple guide: imperialism describes the drive for power; colonialism describes especially direct rule over colonies.

Visual example for Imperialismus
Kolonialismus

Im Geschichtsunterricht sprechen wir über den Kolonialismus und seine Folgen für viele Länder.

In history class, we are talking about colonialism and its consequences for many countries.

Imperialismus

Für die Prüfung hat die Klasse den Imperialismus im 19. Jahrhundert wiederholt.

For the exam, the class reviewed imperialism in the 19th century.

Open full lesson: Imperialismus →

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