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3 . The British Empire ( 16th-20th centuries ) The British Empire was founded on the idea of mercantilism , economic exploitation and a sense of racial and cultural superiority . The British believed it was their duty to “ civilize ” the world , a concept often referred to as the “ white man ’ s burden ”. The British Empire expanded through colonization , economic control and military power , establishing dominance over large parts of Africa , Asia and the Americas . The British used trade , diplomacy and military force to maintain control over their colonies .
Flashmag ! Issue 152 August 2024
4 . Nazi Germany ( 1933-1945 ) The Nazis , led by Adolf Hitler , believed in the superiority of the Aryan race and pursued the idea of Lebensraum ( living space ) for Germans . Their aim was to dominate Europe and eliminate those they considered “ racially inferior ”. Nazi Germany initiated the Second World War , resulting in the occupation of much of Europe . They implemented genocidal policies , including the Holocaust , to exterminate Jews , Roma and other groups , including the few black people , often from the African colonies in Europe : it is estimated that around 30,000 black people perished in Nazi camps , a fact consciously forgotten by historians .
5 . Communist ideologies ( 20th century ) Soviet Union : the USSR aimed to spread communism throughout the world , under the leadership of Lenin , Stalin and their successors , based on the belief that communism was the inevitable last stage of human social development . The Soviet Union exercised control over Eastern Europe after the Second World War , sought to spread communism in Asia , Africa and Latin America by supporting revolutionary movements , and waged a global Cold War against the capitalist West .
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