Gonzales, April Jane C.

October 01, 2010

ECE12 Mr. Paul James Santos

The solution to Neo-colonialism

Neocolonialism, as defined by Wikipedia ®, is a term used by post-colonial critics

of developed countries' involvement in the developing world. Writings within the theoretical
framework of neocolonialism argue that existing or past international economic arrangements
created by former colonial powers  were or are used to maintain control of their former colonies
and dependencies after the colonial independence movements of the  post-World War II period.
The term  neocolonialism can combine a critique of current actual colonialism (where some
states continue administrating foreign territories and their populations in violation of United
Nations resolutions) and a critique of the involvement of modern  capitalist businesses in nations
which were former colonies. Critics adherent to neocolonialism contend that multinational
corporations  continue to exploit the resources of post-colonial states, and that this economic
control inherent to neocolonialism is akin to the classical,  European colonialism practiced from
the 16th to the 20th centuries. In broader usage, neocolonialism may simply refer to the
involvement of powerful countries in the affairs of less powerful countries; this is especially
relevant in modern Latin America. In this sense, neocolonialism implies a form of
contemporary, economic imperialism: those powerful nations behave like colonial powers
of imperialism, and that this behavior is likened to colonialism in a post-colonial world [1]. By its
meaning alone, we can safely say that Philippines is under a great threat with the rise of this.
But, what exactly is the root of this Crisis? As we go through the pages of our history
books, we would actually notice that we were colonized a helping four times. After the
colonizing, they left us with nothing but people who love to run amok and a mountain pile of
rubble from the World War II. We have gained enough independence after some time to be
called a Republic, but it all started when the U.S. and E.U. countries started monopolizing World
Trade, thus making Developing countries (then called Third World countries) dependent on their
footsteps. Mr. Alejandro Lichauco[2] mentioned in his article The Roots of Crisis [3] the question
is: Why have we remained stuck in the pre-industrial age of history when neighbors once more
impoverished and backward than we are have either graduated, or are dramatically in the
process of graduating, into the age of science and industry? The answer to that question is
sitting plainly in front of our eyes. We have been misshapen by our former handlers, handing
down their bent ideologies to under educated people.
How do we solve this dilemma? There is great number of ways, but executing them is
like going against a fortress wall. One of which is helping our own economy build trade
independent of foreign investors. I may sound crazy, but it is the primary key to holding our
own economy, like one Japan did. If the government would slowly drive away foreign investors
and start business of their own, we would not be afraid if the foreign investors threat us with,
“sige itaas nyo yung tax namin, lalayasan namin kayo! Wala ng trabaho yung mga tao.” [4] Or
give us something like this, “mag-iinvest kami sa bansa n’yo pero dapat may balik sa’min yan,
ano kaya kung ‘wag na lang naming asikasuhin yung minimum wage ng mga trabahador?” [5].
We were always afraid of that, investors going away. Have the government build businesses and
give the shares to able Filipinos. Give jobs that are run by the government so that their salaries
won’t be taken for granted. I believe whatever comes, we would be, by far, miles away from
Neocolonialism.

Citations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neocolonialism 1
http://www.librarything.com/author/lichaucoalejandro 2
Alejandro Lichauco 3
Quote by me 4
Quote by me 5