Final answer:
Relations between a parent nation and its colony can become strained, often leading to conflict or war. The history between Great Britain and its American colonies is an example of how colonial policies can lead to war, and how colonialism's legacy has long-lasting effects on global politics and economic dependence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Relations between nations or between a parent nation and its colony can indeed become strained, leading to conflicts such as war. The history between Great Britain and its American colonies provides a significant example. By 1775, war was considered inevitable due to the growing divide in economic, political, and cultural interests. European colonialism led to the forced movement of people and the imposition of new cultures upon colonized societies. The transformative influence of such colonization manifested in multiple ways, including economic dependence, political instability, and eventual independence movements.
Colonial policies, such as the relocation of populations and the enculturation of the young, often disrupted the traditional way of life and fostered resentment. Economic benefits for the colonizers amplified this strife, with neglect for the colonized peoples' own historical identities, as evidenced by arbitrarily drawn borders that cause modern-day geopolitical issues. Eventually, colonized societies began to seek independence, with examples like the thirteen colonies in North America forming a new nation that would surpass the power of Great Britain.
Post-independence, many former colonies faced challenges in establishing functional political institutions and developing economies. Discussions on whether former colonies should aspire to European standards, or if there were viable non-European models for state organization, were often overlooked. Despite the challenges, colonialism and subsequent global events, such as the Cold War, did contribute to the spread of structured governments and democratic processes in many parts of the world.