BASICS FEATURES OF COLONIALISM – iTopper IAS Academy

One basic feature of colonialism is that under it the colony is integrated into the world capitalist system in a subordinate position.
Colonialism is characterized by unequal exchange.
The metropolis produced high technology, high productivity, and high wage goods while the colony produced low technology, low productivity, and low wage goods. International trade thus became an instrument of exploitation.
The colony produced raw materials while the metropolis produced manufactured goods.
The colony was articulated with the world market but internally disarticulated. Its agricultural sector did not serve its industry but served the metropolitan economy and the world market.
The drain of wealth took place through unrequited exports and state expenditure on armed forces and civil services.
The pattern of railway development in India in the second half of the 19th Century was in keeping with the interests of British industry.
Colonizers’ political dominationis was another feature of Colonialism.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Indian nationalist leader, described this as decorating another’s wife.