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Neo-Colonialism and the Global Development Paradigm
Author(s): Permod KumarAbstract
The term neo-colonialism emerged in the mid-twentieth century to describe a new form of dominance that replaced traditional colonialism. Unlike classical colonialism which involved direct political control and territorial occupation neo-colonialism operates through economic dependence cultural domination political manipulation and institutional control. In the post-World War II era many African Asian and Latin American countries achieved formal political independence but the mechanisms of global governance international aid trade and financial systems became new conduits of domination. At the center of this critique lies the global development paradigm which while ostensibly focused on alleviating poverty and promoting progress has often served as a tool for maintaining unequal power relations. This paper critically examines the relationship between neo-colonialism and the global development paradigm highlighting how the language and practice of development have masked enduring forms of imperial control and subordination.