FT Discovers 'Resource Imperialism' Might Be a Problem, In 2026
The FT's 2026 piece, 'The new era of resource imperialism', suggests a novel geopolitical trend where major powers exploit resource-rich nations for their own strategic gain, particularly critical minerals for the energy transition. This narrative conveniently omits the historical context: 'resource imperialism' isn't a 'new era' but the foundational operating system of global capitalism since the
colonial conquests. From the Congo's rubber under King Leopold II to Iraq's oil (remember that WMD hunt?)—Western powers have consistently extracted resources, often through destabilization, puppet regimes, or direct military intervention. Perhaps what's 'new' is the FT's willingness to acknowledge the term, now that China's involvement in Africa and Latin America is challenging traditional
Western monopolies. When the West does it, it's 'foreign investment' or 'nation-building.' When competitors do it, suddenly it’s 'imperialism.' One might wonder if the Financial Times would ever apply the same critical lens to the long history of Anglo-American corporate involvement in, say, Chilean copper or Venezuelan oil. The silence is deafening, as is the convenient timing of this
'discovery'.