What is the Meaning & Definition of neo-colonialism

The term neocolonialism is a term applied to the phenomenon happened in the late 19th century through which much of the European Nations came to the conquest of territories that were still considered not civilized, especially Africa and other regions of South Asia. The word colonialism means 'new colonialism', implying then to new forms of colonization. The term can be used in different moments of history back to the encounter between America and Europe, considered as colonialism first time. Today, he speaks of cultural colonialism while at other times the colonialism was political or economic. The colonialism took place mainly in the second half of the 19th century. The European powers, with Britain to head lived at that time a period of economic glory due to the consequences of the Industrial Revolution. At the same time, its economic power was strengthened by the presence of conquering Governments who sought spaces where to place products and new markets. Thus, Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Holland and Belgium among others conquered much of Africa politically organizing it according to their interests and their own interstate wars. They were not respected the autonomy of local communities and in place European Governments that newly erected a century later would be eliminated to achieve freedom much of the continent.
The neo-colonialism of this era also became present in Asia, especially in regions such as the India, Australia and Japan. They all have today with an important European heritage despite keeping its original cultural traces. To conquer these areas without losing markets, Europeans allowed the existence of local governments in some cases but is inmiscuyeron in its economic affairs (in the same way that did it in Latin America at the time) creating companies with European capitals, intervening directly in the production of the regional raw materials and making decisions about macro-economic actions in each country.