Which idea holds that the white man must 'civilize' undeveloped nations?

• A. Open Door Policy
• B. NATO
• C. White Man's Burden
• D. Militarism

Answer: (C)

The idea that white nations have a duty to civilize undeveloped peoples is symbolized by the White Man's Burden. This notion grew during the height of imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when European powers and the United States expanded their empires. Proponents argued that Western civilization, technology, and governance were superior and that imperial rule was a benevolent mission to uplift other regions, even as it imposed control and suppressed local autonomy. The Open Door Policy, by contrast, was about ensuring equal trading rights in China and preserving China’s territorial integrity, not about a civilizing mission. NATO is a post-World War II military alliance aimed at countering threats, and militarism is a general emphasis on building military power, not a specific justification for civilizing undeveloped nations.