Ano ang Imperyalismo?

Philippine Society and Revolution (Amado Guerrero), Chapter 2, pp 40-42.

Guerrero, A. (1970). Chapter Two: Basic Problems of the Filipino People.

In Philippine Society and Revolution (pp. 40–42). Revolutionary
School of Mao Tsetung Thought.
Summary:

It discusses the context of the United States' decision to seize the Philippines and other Spanish colonial possessions in
the early 20th century. It argues that American capitalism had reached a stage of monopoly capitalism or imperialism,
characterized by the concentration of production and capital in the hands of a few. To cope with the crisis of
overproduction, the American ruling class of monopoly capitalists turned to imperialist expansion, which involved the
export of surplus products and surplus capital to other nations and peoples.

The five key features of modern imperialism, as described by Lenin, including the role of monopolies, the merging of
bank and industrial capital, the export of capital, the formation of international monopoly capitalist combines, and the
territorial division of the world among major capitalist powers.

The Spanish-American War of 1898 is seen as an inevitable consequence of U.S. imperialist expansion, with the United
States seeking to grab territories like Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines as part of its broader ambitions in Latin
America and Asia. It argues that, imperialism leads to war, which is profitable for U.S. monopoly capitalists but disastrous
for American and other affected populations. The conquest of the Philippines was portrayed as a calculated move by U.S.
capitalism rather than a result of unforeseen events.

It describes how U.S. imperialism imposed its power on the Filipino people through counterrevolutionary tactics, such as
supporting the Filipino liberal-bourgeois leadership against Spain and later suppressing the Philippine revolutionary
government through military force. It also highlights how U.S. imperialism controlled the material base of Philippine
society by establishing economic ties that favored U.S. monopoly firms.

Furthermore, the text details how U.S. imperialism shaped the superstructure of Philippine society through its laws and
the collaboration of local elites. It discusses the pretense of granting independence during the 1930s and after World
War II as a strategic move to prevent the resurgence of a national liberation movement. It emphasizes that U.S.
imperialism employed dual tactics of coercion and deception to deal with the people's demand for independence and
had the support of local elites to maintain control.

Answer:

From there, imperialism can be defined as the advanced stage of capitalism. It is a phase where free competition in the
market has given way to the concentration of production and capital in the hands of a few powerful entities. The merging
of bank capital with industrial capital results in the creation of a financial oligarchy, where a select group of financiers
wield significant economic influence. Imperialism involves the export of capital (investment) to foreign nations, not just
the export of goods. This allows capitalists to seek profits and new markets overseas. Powerful international monopolies
play a decisive role in economic life, as they form alliances to dominate global markets. Imperialist powers divide the
world among themselves, seeking control over specific territories and resources, which can lead to territorial conflicts
and wars.

Imperialism is driven by the economic interests of a nation's ruling class or monopoly capitalists. It asserts that the
United States, as an emerging imperialist power, sought to expand its influence by seizing territories like the Philippines,
in pursuit of superprofits, control over raw materials, and new markets for its manufactured products. Imperialism is
depicted as a strategy for postponing the revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist system by extending class oppression
and exploitation beyond national borders.

It emphasizes that imperialism often leads to wars of expansion, which can be profitable for the ruling class but have
negative consequences for both the American people and those in the colonized territories. It asserts that imperialism
involves not just economic dominance but also political control and manipulation, achieved through tactics like coercion,
deception, and collaboration with local elites. Imperialism's objective is to maintain and expand monopoly investments
abroad and secure higher profits in colonies and semicolonies.
Thus, Imperialism, as described in the text, is the pursuit of economic and political dominance by powerful capitalist
nations, marked by the export of capital, monopolistic control of markets, and territorial expansion, often through
coercion and violence. It is driven by the interests of the ruling class seeking to preserve and extend its economic power.

Ano ang Merkantilismo?

A History of the Philippines (Renato Constantino) Chapter 2, p. 21

Constantino, R., & Constantino, L. (1975). Chapter Two: The First Liberation. In A History of the Philippines (p. 21).

Monthly Review Press.

Summary:

Mercantilism, as described in the text, was an economic system that manifested during the early stages of capitalism in
its country of origin. The core beliefs of mercantilists included the idea that a nation's power and prosperity were closely
tied to its ability to accumulate precious metals, especially gold and silver. To achieve this, policies discouraged the
export of these metals and encouraged their acquisition through various means.

Colonies played a significant role in this system, serving as sources of gold and silver for the imperial power. If the
colonies did not produce these precious metals themselves, a system of trade was established to ensure a favorable
balance of trade, allowing the imperial power to accumulate more wealth. An example provided is Spain's exploitation of
its American colonies, where precious metals were sent back to Spain to service foreign debts and pay for imports,
particularly from Northern European nations like England and the Netherlands.
Ironically, the wealth generated by Spain's American colonies contributed to its increasing dependency on Northern
European nations. Spain's pursuit of gold from its colonies overshadowed efforts to establish local industries for domestic
consumption. As a result, Spain relied on both its colonies and more industrially advanced capitalist nations for
manufactured goods. This overreliance on the vast resources of the colonies hindered Spain's industrial development
and economic progress in comparison to countries like England.

Answer:

Mercantilism, as described in the text, was an economic and political doctrine that characterized the early stages of
capitalism in its country of origin. Mercantilists believed that a country's power and prosperity were linked to its ability to
accumulate precious metals, particularly gold and silver. Mercantilist policies discouraged the export of precious metals,
aiming to retain as much of these metals within the country as possible. Colonies were seen as sources of gold and silver.
If the colonies did not produce these metals themselves, a system of trade was established to extract wealth from the
colonies, which would be used to achieve a favorable trade balance. Mercantilism often led to extensive international
trade, with nations like Spain exporting their precious metals to pay off foreign debts and acquire needed imports. This
created dependencies on more advanced capitalist nations, such as Northern European countries. The pursuit of gold
and silver often took precedence over efforts to establish local industries for domestic production. As a result, countries
like Spain relied on imports of manufactured goods and failed to develop a strong domestic industrial base. Overreliance
on the vast resources of colonies and the preoccupation with accumulating precious metals hindered the development
of domestic industries. This approach contributed to economic underdevelopment, especially when compared to more
industrialized nations like England.

Thus, mercantilism was an economic and political system that prioritized the accumulation of precious metals, sought to
establish favorable trade balances through colonial exploitation, and often resulted in economic dependencies on other
nations. It focused on wealth accumulation through international trade, sometimes at the expense of domestic industrial
development. This system had various effects on the economic and political landscape of countries practicing
mercantilism, as exemplified in the case of Spain.