asyncmind on Nostr: Why is colonialism more similar to communism than people realise ? #AskGPT ...

Why is colonialism more similar to communism than people realise ?

#AskGPT #ColonialCommunists #ColonialCommies #CommieColonials

Colonialism and communism, despite being viewed as ideologically opposed, share some structural similarities in how they exert control over resources, people, and governance. Here's how they are more alike than many might realize:

1. **Centralized Control**: Both colonialism and communism rely on a centralized authority to make decisions. In colonial systems, a distant colonial power controls the economy, governance, and resources of the colonized region. Similarly, in communist systems, a centralized government controls the means of production and decision-making.

2. **Exploitation of Resources and People**: Colonial powers exploited the resources and labor of colonized regions to benefit the mother country, often at the expense of the local population. Communism, in many cases, also centralized resources, sometimes leading to the exploitation of labor for the benefit of the state or party elites, as seen in Soviet-style systems.

3. **Suppression of Local Autonomy**: Both systems tend to suppress local cultures, traditions, and political autonomy. Colonial regimes often imposed their culture, language, and governance, while communist regimes imposed a uniform political ideology, often stifling dissent and regional differences.

4. **Control of Information**: Colonial and communist systems typically controlled media, education, and the flow of information. Colonial powers used education systems to indoctrinate the colonized population with the superiority of the colonial culture, while communist states have been known for censorship and propaganda to ensure loyalty to the party.

5. **Economic Redistribution (in Theory)**: Both ideologies claim to redistribute resources. Colonizers justified their exploitation as part of a “civilizing mission,” bringing supposed benefits like infrastructure and governance to the colonies. Communism, on the other hand, promised the redistribution of wealth to achieve class equality, though in practice, elites often accumulated more wealth and power.

6. **Moral Justifications**: Colonialism was often justified by the idea of a moral duty to civilize "less advanced" societies. Communism, too, was framed as morally superior, aiming to create a more just, classless society. Both used these moral justifications to maintain control and suppress opposition.

In essence, while colonialism and communism are different in their explicit goals, both systems involve centralized control, resource exploitation, and suppression of local autonomy, which leads to some surprising similarities in how they function in practice.