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Sociology Terms

Colonialism

Last Updated

28th May, 2026

Date Published

28th May, 2026

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  • The ideology by which a country seeks to conquer and colonise (forcibly settle, rule over) another.
  • The colony becomes a subordinate part of the coloniser’s country, and is exploited in various ways for the colonising country’s gain.
  • Related to imperialism, but involves a more sustained interest in settling down to live in and govern the colony (i.e., exercising detailed and local control) rather than (as with imperialism) plundering and departing, or ruling from a distance.