EARLY BELGIAN COLONIAL EFFORTS - The University of Texas at ...

control or domination of one nation over another noncontiguous area or nation without
the free consent of the people contained therein. Colonialism was defined as
imperialism with the added transplantation of people from the dominating nation to live
in what becomes a colony..
There are various levels of imperialism exercised by Europe during the New
Imperialism. But an examination of Belgian efforts during this period seems to indicate
that Belgium may have been attempting to undertake colonialism without imperialism.
Is that possible? There is some evidence from the three different eras of imperialism to
support colonialism without some form of imperialism. 135 These periods show three
major variations of imperial/colonial rule: direct colonial control; a protectorate, formal
or otherwise, where local rulers remained in place and were directed from afar; and a
sphere of influence which entitled the citizens of the mother country to special
economic privileges, access to their own legal system, extraterritoriality, and small
areas given over to them for their own private use. An analysis of the four attempts by
Belgium to create colonies in Texas, Guatemala, Brazil, and Guinea does not seem to fit
any of these. 136 Leopold’s ambition, however, may well fit the definition of
imperialism.
If the king was willing but not focused, if the relationship among Belgium,
England, and France was problematic, if the chambers were hesitant at best, if the
134 “And the trusty Stockmar, who said boldly that Palmerston was insane,…” Corti, 222.
135 It can be argued that the initial British colonies on the North American mainland were not
imperialistic exercises by Britain. They were individual and group immigration for personal and religious
reasons. This rapidly changed as Britain soon viewed the colonies as a valid check on Spanish, French
and Dutch overseas expansion.
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