A policy of imperialism will undoubtedly bring economic benefits which will be greatly welcomed in today's time of financial turmoil. Colonizing areas would allow access to vast amounts of natural resources and open up new markets and commercial trade routes. Various areas of the world have abundant stocks of certain commodities or resources. If these areas could be colonized, they would give the country access to these resources. That would allow a profitable export industry to be developed, bringing in revenue while at the same time promoting self-sufficiency. Various colonizing experiments in the pasts have proven resource exploitation in colonies is a profitable and beneficial enterprise. For example, according to J.M. Roberts (2013) the former Spanish empire received 16000 tons of silver and 15 tons of gold yearly (or about 17 million dollars then) from its gold and silver mines in its American colonies. A large fraction of this was used to finance the government's projects, providing an example of how colonies could finance the budgets of governments. Resource was not limited to Spain, however. According to Roberts the Dutch, for example, established a valuable spice monopoly in the East Indies, and the colonies in the East Indies produced tons of valuable sugar. These all prove that colonies are extremely important producers of commodities.
Colonies also allow one to control trade routes and thus different markets in the world. Colonies and territories situated at major trade intersections and travel routes will bring in enormous profits as well as revenue through tolls. In addition, controlling these routes would ensure that businesses and merchants from the home country would have a reliable passage and be free of the hassles associated with passing through foreign land as well as potential foreign hostility or instability. The advantages of controlling such trade routes could be evidenced in the Ottoman empire of Turkey. According to Karen Farrington (2002) The Ottoman Empire, which controlled all trade routes leading from Eastern Asia to Europe reaped huge gains due to their possession of the trade routes before subsequently declining partly because of the discovery and subsequent possession of alternative trade routes leading to Asia by the Europeans, who as a result became wealthy. This demonstrates the advantages of obtaining one's own trade routes instead of becoming reliant on the costly and unpredictable routes provided by foreign nations. As one can see overall, colonies have a great amount of economic benefits, benefits that everyone needs during the modern world of financial upheaval and bursting budgets.
Not only does imperialism bring economic stability, it also produces security. Colonies and dependencies form extremely successful defence networks that help protect the empire and national interests. A system of colonies has two main benefits in the area of defence: it provides troops, production, etc. to supplement the war efforts of its home country, and it provides a network of strategic bases. The former advantage is often ignored as there is a prevailing attitude that colonies are home to rebellious populations, with the continual citing and re-citing the American War of Independence being used by opponents. However, contrary to that, colonies actually provide valuable wartime assistance. In World War I for example, according to H.P. Willmott (2003) at least 200000 French colonial troops from Northern Africa and 163000 troops from West Africa served in Europe, while at least 500000 colonials worked in munitions factories. Similarly, the British fielded at least 1168809 soldiers from dominions such as Canada and Australia as well as 241000 soldiers from India and 244000 South African soldiers. Colonies are key allies during wartime that send valuable assistance, and are not full of rebels.
Colonies also serve as bases around the world that can be used to protect the interests of the home country. Colonies allow a country to establish a presence throughout the globe, and allow forces to be placed around the world to defend national interests. These bases can prove to be extremely important when national interests are threatened. In World War II, according to R.G. Grant (2008) the German battleship Bismarck, intended to raid Atlantic commerce was disabled by a naval force from Gibraltar, a British dependency used as a naval base during the war. Gibraltar also kept lines to the Mediterranean open, clear proof of the strategic value of colonies. Since colonies greatly assist the defence efforts of their home country and are valuable strategic assets, they are an invaluable defence network.
As a result of the numerous economic and military benefits derived from colonialism and imperialism gives countries an increased diplomatic influence in the world. Firstly, the economic and military power gained from a colonial and imperial policy aforementioned in the above paragraphs would allow the nation to influence the economy and businesses of the world as well as militarily intervene on matters in the world. Secondly, the strategic areas controlled by colonies would also grant the state extraordinary influence. By controlling the export of commodities and the passage of ships, vehicles, and goods through colonial regions, colonies would allow the state to wield enormous power, allowing it to pressure other states through threatening to close down the routes and halt exports. This influence is highly important, as it allows the state to protect its interests and prevents other nations from infringing upon its rights or acting in a way that is not to the interests of the state. In addition, it allows the nation to influence international policies and have greater say in what the international community is doing. Colonies in addition maintain the interests of the state abroad, and allow it to have influence in all regions of the globe instead of being limited to particularly one region. There are various examples of empires that have exercised great diplomatic influence; envoys of the Roman republic (then reaching empire size) were able to force another state occupying Egypt to evacuate by threatening the sheer power of Rome in 168 BC according to Flower (2004). The influence granted by colonies and empires, as it can be seen greatly helps the maintenance of national interests, making empires and colonies hugely important.
There are some who will oppose the policy of empires and colonies with the following two points: that the establishment of colonies and empires involves enslaving large numbers of people and that colonies are too costly to maintain. The former argument relies on the fact that numerous empires in history have enslaved or oppressed people. However, empires or colonies are not inherently slaving machines. The enslavement and oppression of people has to do more with the prevailing social attitudes and the outdated philosophy of "racial superiority" (people, even those campaigning against colonial cruelty believed in the Aristotelean philosophy that some races were inherently "slaves"according to J.M. Roberts) instead of the policy of colonialists. Colonies could be given some level of autonomy such as in the case of the British dominions and people given freedom; slavery is not an essential part of empires. As for the cost issue, that can be refuted when one sees the economic advantages of colonies and the profits generated which is discussed in the first paragraph, showing quite well that colonies can finance themselves instead of being a financial burden.
In the light of the evidence, it is clear that a network of colonies and dependencies would greatly aid the state. Such colonies boost the economy, defend national interests, and give the nation greater say in the affairs of the world. The resources provided by colonies, as well as the trade & travel routes, markets, and economies they provide should not be refused in this time of economic uncertainty. The military advantages of are similarly great: empires and their colonies allow a nation to protect its interests in every region of the world and provide defence forces to supplement those of the home country. The accumulated power associated with empires gives more voice to the diplomats of the empire, allowing a country to acquire more influence. With these advantages, one can easily conclude that empires are a great asset that enriches countries and protects them. Therefore the state is well advised to create an empire. There are two options now: one is to refuse imperialism and plunge into decline and ignominy; the other one is build an empire and enter a new age of prosperity.
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