In this lecture, we will present a “descriptive theory” of the relationship between the countries of the center and the periphery. The starting point will be the separation of the concept of imperialism from the non-scientific meanings of this word. Therefore, imperialism is a system of economic, political and ideological mechanisms of the lands of the capitalist center that enables the accumulation of capital through extra-exploitation of the working classes and the exploitation of natural resources on the periphery.

These mechanisms change historically and take very different forms from early colonialism during absolutist (proto) capitalism to subjugation of formally independent nation-states. However, the effect is always the same: the creation and maintenance of the monopoly of imperialist countries (on a world scale, corresponding to the scale of capitalism in a given age) over technologies, the financial system, access to natural resources, logistics and communication systems, and military power (for mass destruction).

Starting from these definitions, we will explain the difference between classical (from 1870 to World War II) and contemporary imperialism as the difference between the old imperialism of countries and camps and the current collective imperialism under the hegemony of the USA. Then we will distinguish between two periods within contemporary imperialism: “imperialism with counter-imperialism on a global scale” (1945-1990) “imperialism without counter-imperialism on a global scale” (1991-).

We will finish with the classification of countries according to (1) their position in the world system and (2) their classification in relation to the imperialist countries. In this way, we will try to explain the situation of countries that do not “fit”, at least not without contradictions, into the imperialist system/camp (China, Russia, etc.) and the perspective of creating a new anti-imperialism based on the relocation of the economic, or at least industrial-production, center of gravity of the world from the center to the periphery (especially to Asia).

The event will be photographed and recorded due to publishing on social networks, the website and other information channels for the purpose of promoting the event and activities of the Institute.