Anti-imperialism is a current within the political left advocating the collapse of imperialism. Although not all self-describing anti-imperialists understand the theoretical bases, such a tendency originates in Marxist theories of imperialism, in which imperialism is understood as the economic (rather than primarily military or political, though these are related) dominance of the First World (imperialist countries) over the Third World. All forms of Leninism are anti-imperialist, although there are strains of Marxism that are not, since they do not accept the existence of imperialism. Anti-imperialist praxis generally concentrates on trying to liberate Third World countries from the burden of imperialist exploitation. Historically, the other major thrust of anti-imperialism is in Marxist and other far-left anti-war activity, which opposes inter-imperialist wars, that is wars between major powers, as wars for markets.

Marxist, and other far-left group’s relationship with anti-war movements often involves them trying to win the argument for turning pacifism into anti-imperialism, that is moving from general opposition to war, to condemnation of the economic system that is seen as driving it. [1]

Web links

Anti-Imperialist Camp

See also

exploitation