imperialist

Imperialist refers to a person who supports or practices imperialism, or to characteristics and policies associated with imperialism. Imperialism is the policy or ideology of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition, political domination, or economic and cultural influence beyond its borders. The term originated in the 19th century to describe the expansion of European powers and later other states as they sought empires or dominion over far-flung regions.

Forms of imperialism include formal colonization, protectorates and mandates, economic influence or control through loans and trade, and spheres of influence established without full political annexation. Motives commonly cited by imperialist actors include security interests, access to resources, markets, strategic advantage, prestige, and a belief in civilizational missions or national destiny. Methods varied from settlement and direct rule to indirect governance, coerced agreements, or financial leverage.

Critiques of imperialism highlight the coercive and extractive nature of domination, disruption of local sovereignty, cultural and social disruption, and economic inequality. Critics also analyze how imperial power can persist through neocolonial arrangements and unequal terms of trade, even after formal decolonization.

In contemporary discourse, imperialist is sometimes used in a pejorative sense to describe state or corporate actions that exert disproportionate influence internationally, or to analyze historical cases from a critical perspective. Related concepts include colonialism, neocolonialism, hegemony, and empire.