Britain’s former colonies should stop blaming the Empire for their ills

17 Nov 2011

This debate took place at Cadogan Hall on 17th November 2011.

You can now watch the debate in full on our YouTube channel, or use the chapter listing on the right-hand side of this page to view individual speeches from the event.

Event info:

The British Empire has a mixed legacy. On the plus side we brought railways, the rule of law and the English language, the world’s lingua franca, to far-flung places. But it’s also true that in the aftermath of WWII our rapid retreat from Empire was a bit too hasty: colonial administrators with little understanding of local history or culture created new countries by drawing lines on the map, ignoring the affiliations of religion, tribe or language.

So it’s hardly surprising that our former colonies blame us for the subsequent wars and tensions that continue to this day in places such as Kashmir and parts of Africa. But isn’t it all too easy for corrupt and unpopular leaders to use the Empire as a scapegoat for their failings? 60 years on, isn’t it time for our former colonies to take responsibility for themselves? Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Come to the debate and decide for yourself.

Speakers for the motion

Ramachandra Guha

Indian historian and Philippe Roman Professor of History and International Affairs at the LSE
Tristram Hunt

Broadcaster, historian and newspaper columnist; Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central
Gita Subrahmanyam

North Africa expert and Research Associate, LSE Public Policy Group

Chair

Edward Lucas

International Editor of the Economist

Speakers against the motion

Richard Gott

Writer and historian whose latest book is Britain's Empire: Resistance, Repression and Revolt
Ashley Jackson

Professor of Imperial and Military History at King’s College London
Kwasi Kwarteng

Conservative MP and author of Ghosts of Empire: Britain's Legacies in the Modern World