The Damnosa Hereditas of Empires
| Published date | 01 December 1955 |
| DOI | 10.1177/002070205501000407 |
| Date | 01 December 1955 |
| Author | H. F. Angus |
| Subject Matter | Review Article |
REVIEW
ARTICLE
The
Damnosa
Hereditas
of
Empires*
MPERIALISM
has
come
to
an
end
in Asia.
To
understand
the
nationalisms
which
have
superseded
it
we
must
be
clear
about
the
functions
which
imperialism
was
performing,
since
in
so
far
as
these
were
necessary
functions
they must
be
performed
in
some
other
way.
Imperialism
was
easy
to
defend,
indeed
easy
to
justify,
so
long
as
the
recognized
functions
of
government
were
limited
to
defence,
the
maintenance
of
law
and
order
and
the
protection
of
individual
rights.
A
foreign
power
could
per-
form
these
functions
and
might
be
the
only
agency
which
could
perform
them
effectively.
The development of
other
aims:
popular
education,
social
welfare
and
preparation
for
political
democracy
made
it
neces-
sary
to
look
on
imperialism
as
temporary,
for
these
are
respon-
sibilities
which
no
people
can
undertake
for
another
except
as
a
matter
of
necessity,
as
an
alternative
to
chaotic conditions.
Honest
imperialism
must create
its
successor,
much as
an
honest
dictatorship
of
the
proletariat
should
create
a
classless
society.
Imperialism
must,
therefore,
develop
nationalism,
at
first
by
direct
encouragement,
and
later
perhaps
by judicious
resistance.
This is
a
difficult
task;
in a
plural
society
it
may
be
an
impos-
sible
task.
Mr.
Wint's
short
book
is packed
with
ideas and
overflows
its title.
It
reviews
the
origin,
growth
and
termination
of
Britain's
Asiatic
Empire;
compares
the
designs
and
development
of
Russia's
more
recent Asiatic
Empire;
and
considers
the
future
of
the
Asiatic
peoples.
The
origin
of
the
Indian
Empire
(of
which
other British
possessions
in Asia,
from
Aden
to
Hong
Kong,
were
extensions or
outposts)
is
attributed
to
merchant
adventurers
who played
a
part
not
essentially dissimilar
from
that
of
other
invaders
of
India.
At
times
they
were
"egged
on"
by
Indian
commercial
interests
with
which
they
had
a
sort
of
partnership.
Unlike
other
invaders,
however,
they
came
from
a
powerful
state
in
which
popular
opinion
was
a
controlling
force
and
which
was
bound
in
the
long
run
to
regulate their
activities
in keeping
with
prevailing
ideas
of political
morality.
As
these
ideas
were
constantly
changing
the result
was
highly
*The
books
reviewed
in
this
article
are
listed
on
p.
290.
To continue reading
Request your trial