ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the evolution of imperialism theory. First, it historicizes the notion of imperialism in the globalized 21st century so that students can understand whether imperialism theory is able to explain our contemporary society and why the power relations between the West and the East are increasingly asymmetrical. It then explains the recent growth of imperialism discourse by documenting several different stages of imperialism, starting with (1) Lenin's imperialism (mostly developed in the early 20th century), then moving to (2) cultural imperialism (mostly developed in the 1970s and 1980s), and then to (3) platform imperialism (in the early 21st century). As imperialism theory has analyzed the power relationships and relevant issues, it starts with a definitional essay on the dichotomy of the West and the East.
