Key Terms for Topic B: Undoing Ties to Modern Colonialism

Hello Delegates! 

Here is a list of concepts you will find useful when doing your research for Topic B, Undoing Ties to Modern Colonialism.

Colonialism: The practice of one country taking full or partial political control of another country and occupying it with settlers for purposes of profiting from its resources and economy. It occurs when people from one country settle in another country for the purpose of exploiting its people and natural resources.

Sovereign State: A political state with a defined territory that is independently represented and administered by its own government. Such entities are not subject to or dependent on external intervention. 

Neocolonialism: Method by which developing countries are controlled by developed countries without necessarily converting these subordinate nations into colonies. Indirect means of influence include, but are not limited to conditional aid, globalization, and cultural imperialism.

Political Infrastructure: Refers to the patterns of interaction within political systems and their respective institutions. Essentially, it is the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization).

Structural Adjustment Program (SAP): Scheme of loans offered through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) to countries in economic crisis. Borrowing nations are expected to abide by certain policies defined by lending institutions in order to ensure debt repayment and economic restructuring.

Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples: Resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 14th, 1960 which affirmed the granting of independence to colonial countries and their people. It characterized foreign rule as a violation of human rights, affirmed the right to self-determination, and called for an end to colonial rule.

Exploitative Colonialism: The use of force to control another country for purposes of exploiting its population as labor and its natural resources as raw material. Surplus labor is extracted from the colonized population by mechanisms that largely differ from those found in advanced capitalist societies.

Imperialism: The policy or act of extending a country’s power into other territories. Can be achieved through settlement, sovereignty, or some indirect mechanisms of control. It has far-reaching effects and can influence economies, climate change, and matters of war.

Franc Zone: Consists of 14 Sub-Saharan countries, the Comoros and France. It stems from the common desire of these nations to maintain an institutional framework that contributes towards macroeconomic stability.