Imperialism

Published in 1902, this critique of imperial policy and economics was written by influential early socialist thinker J. A. Hobson.

John Atkinson Hobson (Author)

9781108025140, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 February 2011

418 pages, 1 table
21.6 x 14 x 2.3 cm, 0.53 kg

J. A. Hobson (1858–1940) was an English economist and early socialist, whose writings on capitalism and industrialism influenced Lenin and Trotsky, and were highly regarded by John Maynard Keynes. Imperialism, published in 1902, is considered his most important work. Employed as a war correspondent by the Manchester Guardian to report on the Second Boer War, he became convinced that imperial expansion was driven by the desire to find new markets and investment opportunities, resulting in capitalistic exploitation of the colonies. He argued that imperial policies were a fundamental cause of international conflict, as greed led to aggression and militarism. While modern critics have seen weaknesses in his arguments, such as his failure to examine the development of the British Empire out of early private trading enterprises, Hobson was a very influential and prolific writer and social theorist, who helped shape British welfare policy in the twentieth century.

Preface
Introductory
Part I. The Economics of Imperialism: 1. The measure of imperialism
2. The commercial value of imperialism
3. Imperialism as an outlet for population
4. Economic parasites of imperialism
5. Imperialism based on protection
6. The economic taproot of imperialism
7. Imperialist finance
Part II. The Politics of Imperialism: 1. The political significance of imperialism
2. The scientific defence of imperialism
3. Moral and sentimental factors
4. Imperialism and the lower races
5. Imperialism in Asia
6. Imperial federation
7. The outcome
Index.

Subject Areas: British & Irish history [HBJD1]