neocolonialism
noun
neo·co·lo·nial·ism
ˌnē-ō-kə-ˈlōn-yə-ˌli-zəm 
-ˈlō-nē-ə-ˌli-
: the economic and political policies by which a great power indirectly maintains or extends its influence over other areas or people
… wary opponents of neocolonialism are scrupulous about keeping their nonaligned credentials intact.—
The Economist
The Economist
Examples of neocolonialism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Part of what makes neocolonialism so intractable is that, as a state fails, more neocolonialism becomes the only imaginable cure for the ills created by it in the first place.
—Marlene L. Daut, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2023
Critics of the International Criminal Court contend that its attempts to prosecute African leaders such as Uhuru Kenyatta, the former president of Kenya, or Omar al-Bashir, the former president of Sudan, smacked of neocolonialism.
—Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022
How does a shadow state like Haiti achieve decolonization from neocolonialism?
—Marlene L. Daut, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2023
At the signing ceremony, Mr. Putin devoted a large chunk of his 40-minute speech to what has become a familiar litany of complaints against the West, accusing the U.S. of neocolonialism and decadeslong efforts at sabotage to dismember the Russian state.
—Alan Cullison, WSJ, 2 Oct. 2022
The initiative has been criticized as a form of neocolonialism: hooking up countries, particularly in Africa, to high-interest loans that leave them beholden to Chinese investment.
—WIRED, 27 Sep. 2022
The title track is a rousing seven-and-a-half-minute broadside against neocolonialism in Niger.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2021
What Far Cry 6 serves up is neocolonialism and cultural appropriation—with a wink.
—Phillip Penix-Tadsen, Wired, 9 Oct. 2021
The complex topic of skin tone matters prevails in the context of professional opportunities and social hierarchy and has further complicated issues stemming from neocolonialism.
—Kang-Chun Cheng, Quartz, 11 Aug. 2021
Marlene L. Daut, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2023
Critics of the International Criminal Court contend that its attempts to prosecute African leaders such as Uhuru Kenyatta, the former president of Kenya, or Omar al-Bashir, the former president of Sudan, smacked of neocolonialism.
—Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022
How does a shadow state like Haiti achieve decolonization from neocolonialism?
—Marlene L. Daut, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2023
At the signing ceremony, Mr. Putin devoted a large chunk of his 40-minute speech to what has become a familiar litany of complaints against the West, accusing the U.S. of neocolonialism and decadeslong efforts at sabotage to dismember the Russian state.
—Alan Cullison, WSJ, 2 Oct. 2022
The initiative has been criticized as a form of neocolonialism: hooking up countries, particularly in Africa, to high-interest loans that leave them beholden to Chinese investment.
—WIRED, 27 Sep. 2022
The title track is a rousing seven-and-a-half-minute broadside against neocolonialism in Niger.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2021
What Far Cry 6 serves up is neocolonialism and cultural appropriation—with a wink.
—Phillip Penix-Tadsen, Wired, 9 Oct. 2021
The complex topic of skin tone matters prevails in the context of professional opportunities and social hierarchy and has further complicated issues stemming from neocolonialism.
—Kang-Chun Cheng, Quartz, 11 Aug. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neocolonialism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1947, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near neocolonialism
Cite this Entry
“Neocolonialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neocolonialism. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about neocolonialism
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