Final answer:
According to dependency theory, the statement is true; powerful nations colonized other countries to obtain raw materials needed for their own economic development and to maintain their economic dominance.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to dependency theory, powerful nations did indeed colonize other countries to procure raw materials for their own development, making the statement true. Dependency theory suggests that global inequality is primarily determined by core, or industrialized nations, exploiting the resources of peripheral or underdeveloped nations. By doing so, core nations maintain their economic and political dominance.
The industrialized countries viewed colonies as essential sources for raw materials and markets for their finished goods, thus engaging in the practice of imperialism. This economic dominance continued in various forms even after colonized countries gained their independence, in an ongoing cycle of dependency and exploitation, sometimes referred to as neocolonialism.