From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In general, expansionism consists of expansionist policies of governments and states. While some have linked the term to promoting economic growth (in contrast to no growth / sustainable policies), more commonly expansionism refers to the doctrine of a nation's expanding its territorial base (or economic influence) usually, though not necessarily, by means of military aggression. Compare empire-building and [[nrbyr

Irredentism, revanchism or reunification are sometimes used to justify and legitimize expansionism, but only when the explicit goal is to reconquer territories that have been lost, or to take over ancestral lands. A simple territorial dispute, such as a border dispute, is not usually referred to as expansionism.

Geographic enlargement of the United States has been classed as expansionism; geographic enlargement of the European Union has not, perhaps because the EU is viewed as an organization rather than nation, despite the centralization of some governmental functions in the organs of the EU.

See also

• List of Irredentist states
• List of examples of expansionism
• Manifest Destiny
• Roosevelt Corollary
• Lebensraum
• Historical powers

External links

• "Expansionism / Imperialism" from Project Worldview