Imperialism refers to the political, military, and economic control of one region by a foreign power. By 1914, most of Africa and Southeast Asia had been colonized by European powers through either direct or indirect rule. Indirect rule involved using local political systems to govern, while direct rule appointed foreign governments and sought to transplant the colonizing culture. In the early 20th century, a new class of educated local leaders emerged who admired Western ideas but resented foreign control, sparking growth of colonial nationalism and demands for independence.