Globalisation, Capitalism, and Imperialism: A Critical Analysis of Contemporary Strategies of Economic and Political Domination in the Global South

Abstract

The contemporary global order is profoundly shaped by the intertwined dynamics of globalisation, capitalism, and imperialism, particularly in their impact on the Global South. This article critically examines how modern forms of imperialism operate as strategies of economic and political domination under neoliberal globalisation. Drawing on classical and contemporary perspectives in political economy, the study argues that while imperialism predates capitalism, its modern manifestation is deeply embedded in capitalist expansion and the imperatives of capital accumulation. Globalisation, often presented as a neutral process of integration, is interrogated as a structural mechanism through which advanced capitalist states and transnational corporations penetrate, restructure, and dominate the economies and political institutions of developing countries. Anchored theoretically in Dependency Theory, the paper explores key strategies of contemporary imperialism, including unequal trade relations, debt dependency, multinational corporate dominance, military interventions, and digital and green forms of resource extraction. Empirical illustrations from Nigeria demonstrate how these strategies perpetuate dependency and socio‑economic inequality in the Global South while consolidating wealth and power in the Global North. By situating current global power relations within a historical continuum of imperial practices, the study challenges liberal narratives of development and modernisation. Ultimately, it contends that contemporary globalisation represents a reconfiguration rather than a rupture of imperial domination, underscoring the need for critical alternatives that prioritise sovereignty, social justice, and equitable global relations.

Received: 01-05-2026 | Revised: 01-06-2026 | Accepted: 20-06-2026 | Published: 02-07-2026