British Imperialism

863 Words2 Pages

Just as Lenin foresaw, “monopolies stagnate and decay.” Britain’s “informal empire of trade and influence” based on its monopoly of world markets, various coerced treaties, and accumulation of foreign investment capital declined in the late Victorian Era as opposition and complications grew on all fronts. During the its height, Britain’s informal empire prioritised informal ties over direct control. . Consequently, Britain’s aggressive expansionist policies in Africa were a response to the looming threat to the security of India and Britain’s domestic economic, social, and political stability. The political philosophy of the informal empire was that influence was cheaper and more adaptable than political possession, “annexation was to …show more content…

The Anglo colonies of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and potentially South Africa were to be self governing entities which would continue to benefit and trade with Britain. While its Asian territories were to be ruled by a British governor along with treaties with quasi-autonomous regional states. Britain’s experience in India led to realization that further annexation would prove unmanageable and costly to maintain. With India acting as a centre for trade and regional security, the British only intervened to protect important trading settlements like the strait settlements, indirect economic dependency and coercion was preferred over direct rule. Britain economized its empire through coercion of foreign territories and self governance of colonies to prevent the national financial burden of running a formally controlled empire. Britons had little political will to pay to annex territories and maintain a formal empire, as trade would continue between markets regardless of it being British. But the informal nature of the empire could not stop the rise of racial tensions and nationalism in South Africa , or the political chaos and extremism in Egypt. Imperial influence over South Africa was waning, as a wave of racial conflict, nationalism and republicanism swept the one of Britain’s key sea …show more content…

However, as Britain’s domestic economic interests became increasingly diluted into neutral territories, its interest became threatened as it had limited means of controlling other imperialist encroachments into the territories which they depended on to sell exports and purchase imports. Following the Napoleonic Era’s destruction, Britain built its global empire while the powers of continental Europe were weak and preoccupied with “unifying themselves or fighting each other.” The growing economy, and political consolidation of Europe led to European powers to seek markets to sell their surplus goods, and create their own spheres of influence. Russian expansion into Central Asia threatened Afghanistan, the “walls of the Indian garden.” Britain feared an attack in northwestern India in a moment of weakness, in combination with a potential mutiny, could end British rule in India. In addition, the Germany’s rise in Europe coupled with its annexing of African territories north of the Cape Colony posed a threat to Britain’s access to India. The external threats to Britain’s global trade

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