Final answer:
The claim that the exploitation of poorer countries by former colonizers ended with decolonization is false. Economic exploitation continued through neocolonialism, and the legacy of colonialism still affects postcolonial countries in various ways, including economic dependency and political instability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that exploitation of poorer countries by their former colonizers ended once colonialism did is false. Decolonization led to the independence of most colonies in the decades following World War II. However, colonial domination in the economic sense persisted through various forms of neocolonialism. This included control over raw material prices and markets, which continued to affect the economies of postcolonial societies. The arbitrary borders and social structures imposed during colonization had deep, lasting impacts, leading to ethnic conflicts and inhibiting stable, effective governance.
The transition from colonies to independent nations was marked by civil war, political chaos, and economic devastation. Additionally, the dependency of former colonies on their European colonizers on several aspects, such as education, medical care, and infrastructure, often continued even post-independence. Although decolonization brought about the benefits of structured governments and sometimes greater democratic processes, it could not entirely eliminate the long-term effects of colonial exploitation and influence.