Bibliograph

Imperial sceptics, British critics of empire, 1850-1920, Gregory Claeys

Type

Label

Imperial sceptics, British critics of empire, 1850-1920, Gregory Claeys

Language

eng

Abstract

"'Imperial sceptics' provides a highly original analysis of the emergence of opposition to the British Empire from 1850-1920. Departing from existing accounts, which have focused upon the Boer War and the writings of John Hobson, Gregory Claeys proposes a new chronology for the contours of resistance to imperial expansion. Claeys locates the impetus for such opposition in the late 1850s with the British followers of Auguste Comte. Tracing critical strands of anti-imperial thought through to the First World War, Claeys then scrutinises the full spectrum of socialist writings from the early 1880s onwards, revealing a fundamental division over whether a new conception of 'socialist imperialism' could appeal to the electorate and satisfy economic demands. Based upon extensive archival research, and utilising rare printed sources, Imperial Sceptics will prove a major contribution to our understanding of nineteenth-century political thought, shedding new light on theories of nationalism, patriotism, the state and religion"--, Provided by publisher

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Imperial sceptics

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

816471429

Responsibility statement

Gregory Claeys

Series statement

Ideas in context, 97

Sub title

British critics of empire, 1850-1920

Table Of Contents

Introduction: audi alteram partem: imperialism and the moral imagination -- 1. Positivist diplomacy -- 2. Socialism and empire: from Little England to Socialist Commonwealth 1850-1920 -- 3. Contextualising Hobson: civilisation, utility and socialist imperialism -- Conclusion: the fruits of imperial scepticism

Classification