[Marxism] Answers to two questions re Colombia

[Paula]

Anthony wrote
> In brief, my definition of an imperialist country is
> one which dominates another country or other countries
> economically and/or militarily.

I'm afraid it's not as easy as that. What in your view constitutes 
'domination'? Do New Zealand, Iceland, Portugal or Switzerland dominate any 
other countries? Napoleon's France dominated Spain; was France imperialist 
at the time?

> If you argue that any country which has a bourgeoisie
> which invests in other countries is imperialist, than
> Colombia is imperialist, and so is the Sudan, and so
> is every single other country on the planet.

Perhaps they are. But you are right that foreign investment is not the only 
relevant factor - so once again we have to be very careful. It's not good 
enough to assume that Colombia is not imperialist, without presenting any 
evidence or reasoning.

Since you mention the Sudan, here is a recent article discussing what is 
going on in that region of Africa ('Making Sense of Chad', by Alex de Waal, 
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/dewaal060208.html).

De Waal writes about 'a regional competition for dominance through a vast 
arc of central Africa that has rarely been governed by state authority. 
This hinterland includes Chad, CAR, and northern DRC, as well as the 
adjoining areas of Sudan.  As well as Khartoum [Sudan], Tripoli [Libya], 
Kampala [Uganda], Kinshasa [Democratic Republic of the Congo], Kigali 
[Rwanda], and even Asmara [Eritrea] are vying for influence across this 
area.'

De Waal also argues that 'Post-colonial Sudanese governments are acting in 
exactly the older tradition of a deep and extended borderland, seeking 
influence, security, and profit far both within their own remoter provinces 
and across their national borders.'

Imperialist nations come in different shapes and sizes, and they have 
different historical backgrounds. It does seem that Sudan is acting in an 
imperialist fashion at the regional level. It would be very interesting to 
know whether Colombia or Venezuela are engaged in a similar process.

Paula