COLONIAL POWER

Colonial Power

Colonial Power

Independence against Colonial Power

The disintegration of European Imperialism was one of the most important series of events in the shaping of the world we live in today, and no European empire was larger or more influential than that of Britain. (Shipway ,2008) Britain was economically and socially supported by the strength of its empire, which had propelled it to a new position of international rank and had transformed it from a mediocre European power to, arguably, the most powerful nation in the world, with more overseas holdings than any other. Why then, in the decades following the Second World War, was there such a rapid and complete dissolution of Britain's colonial control? The events of the early twentieth century caused a significant shift in global dynamics. Two World Wars, interposed by a global economic crisis, caused a shift in international power structures and a shift in British priorities and attitudes toward imperialism; not to mention the direct effects of these events on colonialism. However intrinsic aspects of Britain's colonial policy regarding their attitude towards, and treatment of, their colonies had major roles to play in the collapse of imperial rule. (Bridges ,2001) Equally, the initiatives implemented by the nationalist colonies themselves, in resistance to colonial control, also had an important influence on the development, and subsequent collapse, of the colonial system. In order to analyse the reasons behind the dismantling of the British empire we must consider all these factors, and the relationships between them. As early as 1776 Adam Smith commented on the paradox of colonialism; arguing that although colonies simply represented a drain on the colonial power, it was unthinkable to relinquish them as a matter of prestige1. It is the purpose of this essay to investigate what events caused the change in attitudes that allowed general acceptance of the loss of the great British Empire.

A factor of undeniable importance concerns issues within Britain's colonial policy. Although the rapid dismantling of the empire did not begin until after 1945 we must look much further back into the empire's history in order to fully comprehend the ideas upon which the empire was constructed, and potentially many of the fundamental reasons behind its collapse. We can see an important influence on British attitudes towards empire in the loss of the American War of Independence. Following their defeat the British accepted the loss of their colony as a natural progression, colonies were largely viewed as temporary arrangements, that were likely to mature and seek independence at some point. These sentiments continued to affect British attitudes to empire around the globe and throughout much of the timescale of the empire. In 1838 Charles Trevelyan said about India: (Chamberlain ,2002)

The existing connection between two such distant countries as England and India cannot, in the nature of things, be permanent: no effort of policy can prevent the natives from ultimately regaining their independence. (Holland ,2005) This insight into the attitude of the British towards their colonies may help to explain ...