Imperialism

impérialisme

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Summary

Dominique Pagani uses the term in two senses. In the history of thought, he speaks of a philosophical imperialism, that of Aristotle, which encompasses all the sciences, followed by a scientistic imperialism, which he distinguishes from science itself. In the political sense, he regards colonialism as a species of the genus imperialism, so condemning colonialism alone is not enough1. In his view, the fight against colonialism even serves to obscure the anti-imperialist struggle, which he considers the priority today, against Atlanticist imperialism2. In Africa, exploitation is no longer bilateral: it runs through the IMF, the World Bank and the European Union3. The divisions kept alive in the Sahel are meant, he says, to prevent African unity4. He specifies that the target is French imperialism, not the values of liberty, equality and fraternity5. For him, Atlanticist imperialism has dominated the world since Waterloo and is undergoing a military and economic decline that makes it more dangerous, like a wounded tiger6.

Summary produced automatically from 7 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.

Talks · 16 May 2026Mali: a response to Emmanuel Macron's remarks at the Africa Forward summit

26:47The divisions maintained in the Sahel serve to prevent African unity.
41:03French imperialism is being targeted, not the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Cycle 14 · 4 Feb 2026The return of fascism

38:08Atlanticist imperialism has dominated the world since Waterloo and is undergoing military and economic decline; the wounded tiger becomes more dangerous.

Talks · 23 Mar 2024Sahelian Africa and imperialism: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger

7:23Colonialism is a species within the genus imperialism; condemning colonialism alone is not enough.
19:10The dominant element exploiting Africa is no longer bilateral: it is the IMF, the World Bank and the European Union.
1:22:41The fight against colonialism serves to conceal the anti-imperialist fight, now the priority against Atlanticist imperialism.

Cycle 5.1 · 31 Dec 2018#5.3 The philosopher's Odyssey: revolutionary thought

26:11The history of thought sees the succession of Aristotle's philosophical imperialism, which encompasses all the sciences, and scientistic imperialism, which is not science.