The article examines the sociology of colonialism from the perspective of world system and empire theories. Colonialism, as a policy of exploitation of underdeveloped countries by imperial powers, has always played a decisive role in the formation of unequal global relations. By proposing the concept of the modern world system, Wallerstein emphasizes the international division of labor and the different status of countries, and considers structural inequality to be a permanent feature of global capitalism. In contrast, by presenting the concept of empire, Hardt and Negri believe that in the era of globalization, power is no longer concentrated solely in nation-states, but is distributed in a transnational network and non-localities. A comparative study of these two theories shows that both emphasize asymmetrical relations and interdependence of countries, but differ in the level of analysis and future outlook: Wallerstein considers the end of the capitalist system to be probable, while Hardt and Negri highlight the emergence of a new form of imperial power. The results of this research reveal the importance of paying attention to imperialism in the context of global relations and can serve as the basis for macro-policies, designing development strategies, and supporting justice-seeking movements at the international level.