New Ideology of Imperialism: Renewing the Moral Imperative (Pluto Studies in Racism and Imperialism)

During the 19th century vast areas of the underdeveloped world were invaded and colonized under the justification of anti-slavery and the civilizing mission. In this analysis, Furedi demonstrates how, in the late 20th century, the major nations of the West are again intervening in the Third World - this time legitimizing their action on new moral grounds. The author's multidisciplinary study examines the language, nature and origins of the moral justification for such massive intervention. The author argues that, in the wake of the collapse of Soviet communism, the West now presents the Third World as the major threat to international stability, offering Western democracy and financial systems as the solution, thus providing a "new moral imperative" for rebuilding a viable imperialist ideology. The author examines this new anti-Third World view and concludes that we are experiencing the rehabilitation of the imperialist ideas that are depriving post colonial societies of their own moral authority.