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The lion's share : a short history of British imperialism, 1850-2004 / Bernard Porter.

Van Pelt Library DA16 .P67 2004
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Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
Porter, Bernard.
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Great Britain--Colonies--History--20th century.
Great Britain.
Colonies.
History.
Great Britain--Foreign relations--20th century.
International relations.
Great Britain--Colonies--History--19th century.
Great Britain--Foreign relations--1837-1901.
Physical Description:
xxxiv, 445 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm
Edition:
Fourth edition.
Place of Publication:
Harlow, Essex, England ; New York : Pearson/Longman, 2004.
Summary:
This leading general history of British imperialism, from its Victorian heyday to present times, has been thoroughly revised and updated. As well as presenting a lively narrative of events, Bernard Porter explores a number of broad analytical themes, challenging more conventional and popular interpretations. He sees imperialism as a symptom not of Britain's strength in the world, but of her decline; and he argues that the empire itself both aggravated and obscured deep-seated malaise in the British economy. A refreshing look at one of the central aspects of British history.
Contents:
Chronology, 1850-2004 xxiii
Differences 7
Difficulties 11
1 An empire in all but name: the mid-nineteenth century 13
The world market 13
Creeping colonialism 19
The old empire 23
Native policy 30
Cultural imperialism 37
2 Shifts and expedients: 1857-75 39
The Indian Mutiny 40
After the Mutiny 48
Colonial crises: settlement colonies 57
Colonial crises: tropical colonies 67
The vanguard 72
The opening up of Africa 75
3 Conquests forced on us: 1875-90 81
The European challenge 81
India's frontiers and Russian expansion 90
The occupation of Egypt 95
The first Boer War 100
German rivalry in the tropics 105
Reluctant imperialists 116
4 Struggles for existence: 1890 123
Britain under siege 123
The 'new imperialism' 132
The national interest 141
Capitalists 148
5 A limited area of heather alight: 1890-1905 153
Britain in Asia 153
The Nile valley 161
West Africa 165
South Africa: the second Boer War 167
Native policy 178
'Constructive imperialism' 186
Reaction 191
6 An essential compromise: 1905-14 194
The empire in 1905 194
The Liberals 200
South African union 204
Egypt and India: Morley-Minto 209
Tropical development 216
Nationalists and imperialists 222
7 Everything becomes fluid: 1914-20 227
The Great War 227
The promises: India, the middle east 232
The peace 240
The aftermath: Ireland, India, the middle east 244
Imperial morale, 1920 247
8 Difficult times: 1920-39 251
Recovery through empire 251
The dominions 257
A new dominion? Rhodesia, Kenya, Palestine 260
Tropical development 267
The problems of imperialists 271
The problems of anti-imperialists 275
Egypt and India 282
An empire still 287
9 Moving quickly: 1939-70 290
The Second World War 290
Labour's empire 297
The transfer of power in India 302
The nationalist challenge 305
The Conservatives' empire, 1951-59 310
The wind of change, 1960-70 315
The response 322
10 A sudden shift: 1970-95 326
The remains 326
The results 329
The residue 334
Retrospect 346
11 Coming out of the closet: circa 2000 351
An American empire? 351
A new British imperialism? 358
History and empire 366.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
0582772524
OCLC:
55044665

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