Imperialism and the Anti-Imperialist Mind

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Transaction Publishers, Jan 1, 1989 - History - 265 pages

In this major work, Lewis S. Feuer examines critical distinctions between progressive and regressive imperialism. He explores causes of anti-imperial ideologies, noting that unlike the spoliation that took place under regressive tartar, Spanish and Nazi colonizations, civilization flourished during the progressive imperialism of Hellenic, Macedonian, Roman, and modern British eras of empire-building.

Feuer holds that it is erroneous to blame the relative backwardness of colonial peoples on the imperialism of Western democratic nations. In case after case, the character of colonial rulers determined economic development and democratic reform alike. Pursuing the theme of progress versus regression, Feuer compares the imperialism of the United States with that of the Soviet Union â to the detriment of the latter in nearly every instance. His effort constitutes nothing short of a fundamentally new perspective on the lessons of modern history and the mistakes of modern analysts of international affairs. Feuer opens as well a new chapter in political psychology with his study of such anti-imperialist intellectuals as Hobson, Morel, and Leonard Woolf; his portrait of Emin Pasha, the heroic Jewish governor of Equatorial Sudan, suggests a living model for Conrad's Lord Jim.

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Contents

Preface
1
Understanding Progressive Imperialism
13
Consumers Desires
40
F The Altruistic Ingredient in Progressive Imperialism
50
The Jews Under the Varieties of Imperialism
57
F As Pariahs During the Decline of British Imperialism
99
The End of Progressive Imperialism
168
Notes
216
Name Index
259
Copyright

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Page 21 - Not such as Europe breeds in her decay; Such as she bred when fresh and young, When heavenly flame did animate her clay, By future poets shall be sung. Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last.
Page 51 - SLAVERY is so vile and miserable an estate of man, and so directly opposite to the generous temper and courage of our nation, that it is hardly to be* conceived that an " Englishman," much less a " gentleman,
Page 18 - That there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and, by God's grace, do the very best we could by them, as our fellowmen for whom Christ also died.
Page 188 - Union, and by the establishment of a base for land and naval forces of the USSR within range of the Bosporus and the Dardanelles by means of a long-term lease. "3) Provided that the area south of Batum and Baku in the general direction of the Persian Gulf is recognized as the center of the aspirations of the Soviet Union.
Page 65 - For in this most flourishing state, and most splendid city, men of every, nation and religion live together in the greatest harmony, and ask no questions before trusting their goods to a fellow-citizen, save whether he be rich or poor, and whether he generally acts honestly, or the reverse.
Page 143 - the hard, energetic, practical men who do the rough pioneer work of civilization in barbarous lands, are not prone to false sentimentality." " The most ultimately righteous of all wars," he explained, " is a war with savages, though it is apt to be also the most terrible and inhuman.
Page 66 - He then fell into abusing the Jews most heartily, and after he had said every thing that was contemptible and low of them: "Can you really be afraid," said he, "that this mean despised people, should be able to prevail in trade and credit over the merchants of England, the noblest and most esteemed merchants of the whole world!" — Thus he went on, till he had silenced them too; and so was at liberty to grant what he desired to the Jews.
Page 20 - I like a plantation in a pure soil; that is, where people are not displanted to the end to plant in others; for else it is rather an extirpation than a plantation. Planting of countries is like planting of woods ; for you must make account to lose almost twenty years...

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