Imperialism is a stage in capitalism, not an individual action, just like there’s no such thing as a single company in a vacuum, as the existence of companies implies capital markets, labor markets, and commodity markets all in general the company is operating within. Imperialism is a material process where the imperial core exports capital to the global south, taking advantage of development gaps and hard/soft power to super-exploit them for super-profits.
In 2008, Norwegian communications multinational, Telenor — partly owned by the state — was exposed for partnering with a Bangladeshi supplier that employed child labour in horrendous conditions.
A report revealed that the children were made to handle chemical substances without protection and one worker died after falling into a pool of acid. The plant also ruined the crops of farmers in the surrounding area with the waste it produced.
Like other Western multinationals that deliberately go to the developing world looking to save money on labour and operating costs, the company washed its hands of the accusations — denying knowledge about its partner’s inhumane practices.
Similarly, Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil, also partly owned by the state, has been involved in multiple corruption cases around the world — especially in underdeveloped countries — where they have bribed state companies and government officials to obtain licenses for extraction.
Their involvement is not only limited to these aggressive economic practices, Scandinavian nations are also deeply involved in the West’s military exploits. Norway dropped 588 bombs on Libya, but is scarcely mentioned as being part of these imperialist operations. Statoil has since started joint extractions operations worth millions in the ruined country.
Sweden’s foreign policy record is no better. Technology firms like Saab, BAE Systems and Bofors compete with the US and Israel in their development of a large variety of weapons that are sold to 55 countries around the world in deals worth billions. It seems that Sweden, like its Norwegian neighbour, actively participates in denying human rights to millions across the globe, especially in underdeveloped nations.
The Swedish clothing giant H&M can sell affordable products in rich nations and make huge profits only because it exploits and underpays workers in impoverished nations such as Bangladesh.
As John Smith points out in his book Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century, only €0.95 of the final sale price of an H&M T-shirt remains in Bangladesh to cover the cost of the factory, the workers, the suppliers and the government. The remaining €3.54 goes for taxes and transportation in the market country, with the bulk going to the retailer.
In other words, Western nations capture most of the profit, although it is the poor workers and nations that have put in most of the labour and resources.
The Danish-British firm G4S is the world’s largest security company and is known for its long list of controversies. It has supplied services to Israeli prisons and checkpoints, and been accused of mistreatment of immigrants in detention centres. It has also played a huge role in protecting Western imperialist interests, such as oil refineries and the territory around the Dakota Access pipeline on Native American land in the US.
However, since Britain is known as the most aggressive of the two nations, the Danish component is frequently swept under the rug, despite the fact they were the founders and developers of the company.
It was for these reasons that I linked resources on what imperialism actually is, and why capitalism necessarily evolves into it. Imperialism is also why socialist revolution has largely happened in exploited countries, rather than more developed ones as initially predicted by Marx. Capitalism may pave the way for socialism, but not in an even manner like social democrats would have you believe.
China sells weapons, selling weapons is not imperialism inherently. It matters to whom weapons are sold, for what purposes and ends. Scandinavian countries largely sell weapons the same way the rest of the west does, in service of retaining imperialism (such as selling to Israel).
Regarding colonialism, it’s in many ways similar to imperialism as a stage of capitalism. They are often linked.
Here’s a map of China’s arms sales. I’m not sure why you keep asking for sources, as you don’t seem to read most of the ones I do link and you don’t seem to provide sources of your own, yet you feel plenty comfortable making claims.
I gave you the source, and I’m always interested in a good discussion. I just feel that this conversation has generally been a bit imbalanced, that’s all. It seems like you’re coming from this with a permanent skepticism that even light googling can help solve.
Imperialism is a stage in capitalism, not an individual action, just like there’s no such thing as a single company in a vacuum, as the existence of companies implies capital markets, labor markets, and commodity markets all in general the company is operating within. Imperialism is a material process where the imperial core exports capital to the global south, taking advantage of development gaps and hard/soft power to super-exploit them for super-profits.
Scandinavia plays a bloody role in imperialism:
It was for these reasons that I linked resources on what imperialism actually is, and why capitalism necessarily evolves into it. Imperialism is also why socialist revolution has largely happened in exploited countries, rather than more developed ones as initially predicted by Marx. Capitalism may pave the way for socialism, but not in an even manner like social democrats would have you believe.
Hmm, that reads the same as British East India Company-era colonialism tbh.
On the sale of weapons: doesn’t china sell weapons, too, though? A brief answer will do.
China sells weapons, selling weapons is not imperialism inherently. It matters to whom weapons are sold, for what purposes and ends. Scandinavian countries largely sell weapons the same way the rest of the west does, in service of retaining imperialism (such as selling to Israel).
Regarding colonialism, it’s in many ways similar to imperialism as a stage of capitalism. They are often linked.
China doesn’t sell weapons to the US and Israel?
China trades with them, but actually blocks the sale of weapons and things that can be used in weapons for countries like the US and Israel.
got a source on that?
Here’s a map of China’s arms sales. I’m not sure why you keep asking for sources, as you don’t seem to read most of the ones I do link and you don’t seem to provide sources of your own, yet you feel plenty comfortable making claims.
You don’t have to if you don’t want to.
I can move to the other point I wanted to go over if you’re still interested.
I gave you the source, and I’m always interested in a good discussion. I just feel that this conversation has generally been a bit imbalanced, that’s all. It seems like you’re coming from this with a permanent skepticism that even light googling can help solve.