British Colonial Theories 1570-1850

The purpose of this study is to present and examine significant British colonial theories on the advantages and disadvantages resulting to the mother country from the establishment and mainte nance of oversea colonies. For what reasons was the building and the preservation of Empire thought profitable or unprofitable to the British nation?

From the very beginning of English colonization up to the present, this question occupied the minds of British writers and politicians. No single argument or any inter-related set of argu ments, no theory in other words, remained unchallenged over any length of time. Sometimes the continuous debate among politically influential and intellectually articulate groups on the pros and cons of empire slackened and arguments became stereotyped; some times the discussion was exceedingly lively, the change of ideas rapid, and mortality of arguments high.

The development of colonial theories influenced motives that produced action and significantly fashioned the formulation of policies. Action by responsible statesmen in framing expansionist and imperial policies must receive the sanction of the politically influential. This process necessitates discussion which is facilitated by the formulation of theories.

Not that policy-making is exclusively influenced by the objective merits or demerits of theoretical alternatives. Traditions, preju dices, self-interest, and inertia enter significantly into the picture. Irrational pride of empire, for example, may determine a large portion of the ruling groups to disregard well-established arguments put forth by anti-imperialist circles. It is a widely accepted as sumption that the theories and opinions of ruling groups are determined by their own selfish interests as to power, prestige, and income. However, the realization of such selfish interests is in turn governed by opinions and theories on the nature of particular advantages and on the methods by which such advantages can be secured. In this sense, theories produce action and, therefore, are relevant data.