How did nationalism influence imperialism?

One way to think through the relationship between nationalism and imperialism is through the logic of political economy and racism. Imperialism can be understood as the extension of a nation's influence  over other sovereign territories. Historically, (informal) imperial relations came to replace what were crumbling colonial (or formal imperial) relations. Economically, imperialism is understood to be the highest stage of capitalism. We can link these conceptualizations through the role race and resources played as the...

One way to think through the relationship between nationalism and imperialism is through the logic of political economy and racism. Imperialism can be understood as the extension of a nation's influence  over other sovereign territories. Historically, (informal) imperial relations came to replace what were crumbling colonial (or formal imperial) relations. Economically, imperialism is understood to be the highest stage of capitalism. We can link these conceptualizations through the role race and resources played as the world transformed from colonial relations of nations and colonies to imperial relations of core nations and peripheral nations. While the creation of the Nation-state system in Europe was through internal warfare, once formed, it perpetuated itself as sovereign through constant competition for capital, labour, markets, and territory. The subjugation of foreign populations to the competing interests of (European) sovereign nations were justified on the basis of the scientifically hegemonic (and notably racist) idea of social darwinism. However, it was the exact process of colonialism which led to the emergence of nationalist movements within the occupied territories (e.g. colonies). Notably, these nationalist movements were constituted (and gained prominence) on the basis of their critique of  imperialism. Despite formal decolonization, the newly formed nations continued to be under partial control of their former colonizers - these contemporary imperial relations are what facilitates the flow of raw materials from resource-rich countries in the global south to advanced industrial nations (primarily in the global north).