What term describes the direct control of colonies by a foreign power?

The term that describes the direct control of colonies by a foreign power is colonialism. This concept specifically refers to the process by which a powerful nation asserts authority over a territory, establishing governance and often settling its population there. Colonialism involves the domination and exploitation of resources, culture, and governance by the foreign power, leading to significant social, economic, and political changes in the colonized region.

In contrast, imperialism is a broader term that encompasses various forms of domination and influence, which can include economic and political control without the establishment of formal colonies. Neo-colonialism refers to indirect forms of control, often economic, exerted by former colonial powers over newly independent nations, while colonization specifically pertains to the act of settling and establishing control over a territory, but not necessarily implying the direct governance aspect that colonialism does.