| Supporters
● Widely accepted among ruling elites and generally accepted across society. Sometimes justified on authoritarian/moral grounds as responsibility , or the ‘white man’s burden’ that God placed on British in order to bring stability to the world or ‘civilising’ colonial peoples. ● Liberals saw Empire as means to an end with colonies pursuing eventual self-rule, with education and improvement of colonies for the people. Generally, Labour and Liberal party saw Empire as something to liberate the people, not something to be liberated from. ● Conservative government were seen as ‘real imperialists’. Enthusiastic for Empire, usually the radical ones though. Supporters of Prime Minister, Lord Sailsbury, embraced imperialist cause. Argued in favour of creation of stronger and united Empire. ● Lord Curzon was strong imperialist, claiming ‘there has never been anything so great in the world’s history than the British Empire, so great an instrument for the good of humanity’. Wanted stronger empire ruled by white people. Believed service in the colonies made men stronger. ● Joseph Chamberlain believed ‘national crisis’ could only be resolved by Empire. Empire could provide employment and enable industrial recovery. Idealistic ideas of imperial parliament and ‘pool of sovereignty’ proved unpopular with British public. ● Many argued for economic benefits of Empire and also social benefits, suggesting expansion of British cities with simultaneous state-organised emigration would strengthen Empire. ● Royal Colonial Institute of 1870, Round Table Movement of 1909 and Victoria League of 1901 supported closer cooperation between Empire and Britain. ● Empire Day movement began in 1896 under Lord Meath was not celebrated till 1902 and officially recognised by Parliament in 1916. ● Journalists such as Leo Amery and Lord Beaverbrook began to lead big newspapers like the Daily Express, also helping represent Empire as an ‘imperial family’. |
Critics
● John A. Hobson was an economist starkly opposed to Empire, writing Imperialism in 1902. His view was influenced by the Boer War, believing that imperial expansion had been driven by search for new markets and new opportunities for rich capitalists of Britain to make profits through investment and that the Boer War was a ‘capitalist plot’. Provoked debate and fed into socialist anti-imperialism although did little immediate impact on policies. ● Many critics emerged after Boer War, including Emily Hobhouse, which led government enquiry into conditions during Boer War. Produced detailed report of conditions in concentration camps deployed by British during Boer War. ● Other figures known to challenge imperialist ideals include Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, who made fun of Kipling in his ‘the white man’s burden’ poem and Frederic Harrison, a radical left-wing lawyer and historian who believed imperialism to be unethical. Walter Crane was an Arts and Crafts designer who used his design skills to produce anti-war illustrations to encourage those on the left to embrace anti-imperialism. |
