The British Empire was more than just colonialism and slavery. Framing it as such does a deep disservice to history, impedes progress in the present, and is an attempt to rewrite history in a manner that could endanger a stable future. Professor Nigel Biggar joins Rasheed for a thought-provoking discussion to give some ethical clarity to a tumultuous and complex period in the West's past.
Slavery was not unique to the British Empire. They weren't the first, but they certainly made a concerted effort to be the last. The Empire would play host to truly regrettable events and conditions, but this should not invalidate one of its largest contributions to modern Western society, namely the abolition of slavery and the establishment of rudimentary human rights.
Some proponents of the idea of a British Debt to the Caribbean have built entire arguments solely on the demonization of the Empire. These disingenuous arguments focus solely on the extracted commodities and willfully ignore the intangible benefits that are a tenet of our existence to this day. Strong social institutions, trusted legal systems, and a common moral identity are all directly the result of British influence across the continent. We must also never forget which side of history the Empire stood on during World War II and the price it paid to maintain all the aforementioned standards we now take for granted.
In the context of the Caribbean, the remnants of the empire are visibly much more well-off than their proudly independent neighbors. Integration, rather than Balkanisation, was the key to their development, and for their endurance, they were rewarded with the Empire's evolution into a more cohesive and diverse international state.
Professor Biggar explores the truths of the Empire and more in his book "Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning."
Rasheed on X (formerly Twitter)
Prof. Biggar's website
The British Empire was more than just colonialism and slavery. Framing it as such does a deep disservice to history, impedes progress in the present, and is an attempt to rewrite history in a manner that could endanger a stable future. Professor Nigel Biggar joins Rasheed for a thought-provoking discussion to give some ethical clarity to a tumultuous and complex period in the West's past.
Slavery was not unique to the British Empire. They weren't the first, but they certainly made a concerted effort to be the last. The Empire would play host to truly regrettable events and conditions, but this should not invalidate one of its largest contributions to modern Western society, namely the abolition of slavery and the establishment of rudimentary human rights.
Some proponents of the idea of a British Debt to the Caribbean have built entire arguments solely on the demonization of the Empire. These disingenuous arguments focus solely on the extracted commodities and willfully ignore the intangible benefits that are a tenet of our existence to this day. Strong social institutions, trusted legal systems, and a common moral identity are all directly the result of British influence across the continent. We must also never forget which side of history the Empire stood on during World War II and the price it paid to maintain all the aforementioned standards we now take for granted.
In the context of the Caribbean, the remnants of the empire are visibly much more well-off than their proudly independent neighbors. Integration, rather than Balkanisation, was the key to their development, and for their endurance, they were rewarded with the Empire's evolution into a more cohesive and diverse international state.
Professor Biggar explores the truths of the Empire and more in his book "Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning."
Rasheed on X (formerly Twitter)
Prof. Biggar's website