great britain and its imperial revival

7/21/2019 Great Britain and Its Imperial Revival

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Beyond Boundaries

(A Discourse about Great Britain and its Imperial Revival)

by:

Ma. Chrisel P. Maniebo


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Contents

Introduction The Rise of an Empire what helped strengthen the British Empire

The Thirteen Colonies Africa The Triangular Trade

India: the Crown Jewel of Great Britain

The Beginning of the Collapse of the Empire Implications of World War II

Sea Power Key to the revival The Commonwealth Overseas Territory Falkland War

Alliances and Partnerships


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US (United States) CONCLUSION

I- IntroductionThe aim of this paper is to understand first how Great Britain started its global empire, an

empire that ranged at times, from the American colonies in the West, Australia and New Zealand

in the East, Canada and her dominions in the North and huge chunks of Africa in the South,

including Egypt and Rhodesia. Second, to understand how Great Britain used its power thru

commonwealth and how did they impose their will in their empire and after the collapse of

British imperial power, what impact did decolonization have on Britain? After understanding

everything, and by using Mahans sea power theory as a method of proving this argument: Great

Britain can revive its imperial power.

II- Discussion ProperStart of an Empire

The British Empire significantly kick-started the world into the modern era, and gave the

world a new view. How did the British Empire begin? Historically, Britain has been, to some

degree, a parliamentary democracy that reigned in kings and queens and rulers, and was the first


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to have a popular revolution. History tells us that the first Englishmen who started to venture

capitalism were adventurers who robbed mainland Spain and wanted a slice of everything, from

every place that they went of which were often backed by Royal decree. From here, the ideas

of capitalism, free trade, enforced labor, rigid hierarchies, discrimination and severe divides

between those who had and those who did not have, both in Great Britain and its colonies. These

discriminations were in reality an important issue to deal with. It has been clearly demonstrated

in its colonies like India, Africa and Ireland and in their colonies in the Middle East and this

started the Empire. An example of which is Ireland, it was the first serious attempt by the British

Crown and Parliament to begin a process of English colonisation to make use of its wilderness

and make the land more profitable. At this time, the Irish were treated like natives, same as what

the Spaniards thought of the Filipinos when they colonized us, the British have also seen the

Irish as uncivilized and nomads. This interference of the British with the Irish was because of

their principle that nobody owned the land and it was free for everyone to get. The situation was

like this: the Englishman was the civilized man and the Irish was the uncultured one. This

excuse that they are civilized and others were not, together with otherbogus reasons was the

key factor why the Englishmen sought to establish colonies that would make profit and establish

their names. Basically, its the same excuse that most colonizers used in establishing their

connection to their will-be-colonies. The idea of civilization are always used to excuse slavery,

land grabbing and even ethnic cleansing (the best example that I could think of was the

nazification in Germany wherein they built concentration camps, placed the Jews in gas

chambers and killed them because the Germans have this thinking that they were above the

Jews and the Jews were the pest in their place thus they are needed to be exterminated)


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Going back to Great Britain, Africa became the source of wealth for Britain and Europe,

primarily because of slave trade but also because of its goods. According to Iggy Kim and

Peter Boyle in their article, How the Rich Invented Racism; racism has historical root in the

development of capitalism. The slaves can be brought cheaply and in bulk. After reading that

article its clear to methat blacks or other skin color, brown (Moreno or Asian) besides white

(Caucasians) must have been naturally inferior to whites. A factor to this idea was the fact

that the expansion of European capitalism to Africa and Asia includes huge colonial empires and

it justifies the global oppressive relations of imperialism. The beginning of Britains

industrialisation and the creation of this social class creates vast divisions in Britain and around

the world.

(Great Britain in the 19 thCentury)

By the middle of the nineteenth century, the British Empire was the largest and richest

empire in the world. This gave rise to the belief that the British themselves were the chosen race

chosen to bring the benefit of western civilization to the backward areas of the world. After they

have conquered India, their military, economic, social, ethnic and even religion were affected by

these natural superiority and natural inferiority. In understanding how this empire starts, it isimportant to understand that these inherent division within the imperial system, how racist and

classist propaganda and such was accumulated for centuries of brutal, merciless and systematic

injustice for one real purposethat is to make capital gain.


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According to Anthony Wohl, racism and class prejudice does not only serve as agents of

political power but also as buffers between community and nature that seems to be getting to

close for psychological comfort.

The Thirteen Colonies:

Colonists had many reasons for leaving Europe and coming to the New World. Some

only had a small area of farming land in Europe and expected to get bigger farms in America.

Others were fed up with wars and rebellions that went on in Europe and made it unstable. They

wanted peace and a quiet life. Another group thought it was easy to make money and get rich

quickly in America. Farmers in the south saw a chance to earn a lot by growing and

selling tobacco.

But most people came for religious reasons. Many European kings and

queens forced their people to have the same religion that they had. Most settlers came to

America because they wanted religious freedom.

The thirteen colonies became very essential to the growth of the British Empire because

of the following: (1) The British had established large plantation or farming land. Colonists grew

their own food, raised cattle, chicken and sheep; went hunting and fishing that was used to trade

around the world especially in India and Africa. (2) Primary crops: Corn, cotton, tabacco and

sugar. In these regions of North America, the soil are suitable for farming and therefore, British

had established large plantations that produces crops such as tobacco, cotton, and sugar which is

a primary raw material to create rum. With the huge number of production, the goods were

traded all over Europe, Africa, and India. With the plantations in the Thirteen Colonies, and

successful trades, the economy of the British Empire had increased drastically. This made the

Thirteen Colonies a very important territory for Britain.


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Africa: Slave Manufacturer?

The British had found that labor in Africa were cheap and had decided to export African

natives to other colonies, due to large plantations, and labor was greatly in demand. This started

the slave trade which secured the wealth of the British Empire, because these slaves were not

only exported to American colonies but also to other European Countries. Along the coast of

West Africa, Trading posts were established which became the center for commerce.This made

Africa the stopping station before reaching India. During this time Merchants, Traders, and

Missionaries has travelled from Britain to Africa.English missionaries with the fervor to bring

Christianity, entered the innermost part of Africa.Merchants and traders also explored Africa to

locate and discover new resources.

The Triangular Trade

The Triangle Trade, also known as the triangular trade, is the name given to a system of

trade that occurred during thecolonial era in American History. New Englanders traded

extensively, exporting many commodities such as fish, whale oil, furs, and rum. However, one

distinct route that formed was the triangular trade. This pattern occurred as follows: (1) New

Englanders manufactured and shipped rum to the west coast of Africa in exchange for slaves.(2)
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/colonialamerica/Colonial_America.htmhttp://americanhistory.about.com/od/colonialamerica/Colonial_America.htm


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The slaves were taken on the Middle Passage to the West Indies where they were sold for

molasses and money.(3) The molasses would be sent to New England to make rum and start the

entire system of trade all over again. It is important to note that the triangle trade was not an

official or rigid system of trade, but instead a name that has been given to this triangular route

of trade that existed between these three places across the Atlantic. Further, other triangle-shaped

trade routes existed at this time. However, when individuals speak of the triangle trade, they are

typically referring to this system.

India: The Crown Jewel of Great Britain

India became a center of interest from Great Britain because it also become a center of

commerce for both European and Asian nations. It was particularly known for its abundant

resources like spices, and especially its minerals and gold. By 1835, British Tradesman travelledto India and established the East India Company. The British Empire had granted political and

military privilege to E.I.CO, so that they could profit from them. With the establishment of the

E.I.CO the Britains grip from India became firmer.

East India Company, the name given to a number of companies set up in the 17th and

18th centuries by various European countries to trade with the East Indies, India, and China. The

name usually refers to the English company that was chartered by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600.

This company is important because it established British rule in India. The full name of the firstEnglish company was The Governor and Company of Merchants of London, trading with the

East Indies. It was given a monopoly of trade with all islands and places between the Cape of

Good Hope and the Straits of Magellan. The first voyages were profitable, but the company

came into conflict with the Dutch East India Company. After 1623 the English turned their

attention from the East Indies to India. The English company built up large trading posts in India.

Various acts of Parliament renewed its charter, in return for which the company made large loans

to the government. The company was given authority to acquire territory, coin money, maintain

forts and armies, make treaties, and administer justice. Through treaties and wars, the company

became the ruler of much of India. A French company became the rival of the British in India.

During the Seven Years' War in Europe (175663), the two companies engaged in war in India.

The British won under the leadership of Robert Clive. In 1784 Parliament set up a board of

control to supervise the company's rule of India. In 1813 Parliament abolished the company's


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monopoly of Indian trade. After the Indian Mutiny (1857), the British East India Company was

deprived of its political authority. It was dissolved in 1858. During this time of success in India,

the 13 American colonies broke up with the British Empire, which caused an economic blow to

Britain. Simultaneously, trade with China had been a failure. With these events, India became

more important to the empire.

The Beginning of the Collapse of the Empire

The collapse of the British Imperial Power can be traced directly to the impact of World

War II. British defeats in Asia and in its Europes colonies destroyed its financial and economic

independencewhich was the foundation of the imperial system. This erased the old balance of

power on which the British has largely depended. Even though Britain was one of the victorious

allies, the defeat of Germany had been mainly the work of American power and that of Japan.So, Britain had survived the war but its wealth, prestige and authority had been severely reduced.

Britains weakness can be seen when India was withdraw in 1947. This withdrawal happened

because during World War II, the British had mobilised Indias resources for their imperial war

effort and was able to crushed the attempt of Gandhi and the Indian National Congress for

Britain to quit India in 1942 but because Britain promise to give India full independence once

World War II was over, once the war was done, Britain hoped that India would remain part of

the imperial defence but that did not happened. So it was a hard blow for Britain. Another factor

to look at why Britain has lost its empire was because it was overshadowed by the two

superpower, the US and the Soviet Union; its domestic economy had been seriously weakened

and the Labour government had embarked on a huge and expensive program for social reform. In

line of this, Britains economic recovery and the survival of sterling as a great trading currency

required closer integration with the white dominions, namely Australia, New Zealand and

South Africa. The sterling area which included the empire, Commonwealth (with the exception

of Canada) and other countries accounted for half of the worlds trade in the early post war years.

At this time, Britain were determined to exploit their tropical colonies for more source of

income.

Britains strategic defence against the new Soviet threat required forward air bases from

which to bomb Southern Russia which was the industrial arsenal of the Soviet Union. This

means staying in the Middle East even after the breakdown of British control of Palestine and its


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hasty evacuation in 1948. Britain was also determined to hold on to their treaties and bases

including the Suez Canal zone; what they have hoped for was support from Australia and Indian

against Soviet influence in Asia. The deal now was that the British leaders must uphold its status

as the third great power being overthrown by the Soviet Union and the US and that it could only

do so by maintaining its empire and the Commonwealth link. The 1956 Suez Crisis was a savage

revelation of Britains financial and military weakness and destroyed much of what remained of

Britains influence in the Middle East. At this point, it was becoming much harder for Britain to

control the rate of political change, especially where the presence of settlers sharpened conflicts

over land. Not just that, Britains position as the third great power and deputy leader of the

Western Alliance was threatened by the resurgence of France and West Germany, who jointly

presided over the new European Economic Community (EEC). All of these crises that Britain

were experiencing were a revelation of Britains financial and military weakness.

Because of the conditions that they were confronting, it was becoming increasingly

difficult to maintain everything. To avoid being trapped in costly struggle with local nationalist

movements, Britain backed out most of the remaining colonies with haste. As late as 1959, it had

publicly scheduled a degree of self-government for Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika which

became independent between 1961 and 1963. As I have pointed out, British leaders insisted that

Britain would remain as the top three in the world power a status guaranteed by its nuclear

deterrent and its continuing influence in the ex-colonial world, and symbolised by the

Commonwealth which the ex-colonies had joined. But that didnt happen due to Britains

failure to stop the revolt in Southern Rhodesia in 1965 - it was a huge embarrassment. Another

thing was because of protecting Malaysias new federation against Indonesian aggression

became more and more costly. Main point: it was just too hard for Britain to get a hand of

everything, so the colonies were lost. Britain was finding it too costly to protect its remaining

colonies and there are no more resources for them to use as profit/s.

The post-war decolonization forced Britain to take a more rigorously cost-benefitanalysis approach to its foreign policy. Britain has to accept that the new geopolitical landscape

and its relative economic decline meant any moves it did make needed to be more closely

scrutinised to ensure that they were as effective as possible. This also led to a close relationship

with US. Britain returned sovereignty to a former colony only when it was certain that the new


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government and ruling elite would be amenable to its influence and contribute towards the

realisation of its interests.

The Commonwealth

Great Britains Commonwealth will play the key role for its Imperial Revival. To be

clear, I will first discuss the role of the Commonwealth. Commonwealth gave definition to

dominions as autonomous communities within the British empire that were equal in status and in

no way subordinate in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs. They were united by a

common allegiance to the British Crown and freely associated as members of the British

Commonwealth of Nations. Canada, Australia, the Irish Free State, South Africa, New Zealand

and Newfoundland were dominions under the Statute of Westminster. When India were divided

into two (India and Pakistan), the Commonwealth was needed to be amended as the new India iskeen to remain a member of the association but had decided that its form of government should

place the power to its citizens (became Republican) and not remain monarchy. Because of these

instances, the Commonwealth of Nations had been created for those ex-colonies who wants to be

in but doesnt want to remain a monarchy. New India for example has republican constitutions

but wanted to remain as members of the Commonwealth and accepts the British Monarch as a

symbol for free association of independent member nations. But, one must remember that the

Commonwealth of Nations doesnt have any constitution proposed either then or later for the

governance of the association.

Not all former colonies joined the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth has a

membership of 53 countries. Over two-thirds of these do not recognize the British Monarch as

their head of state. The Commonwealth does not bore any resemblance of the past, but is an

entirely new conception built on the highest qualities of the spirit of man: friendship, loyalty and

the desire for freedom and peace a source of unity. It values commitment to democracy, the

rule of law, good governance, freedom of expression and the protection of human rights.

Especially respect for diversity and human dignity, implacable opposition to all forms of

discrimination; it is determined to work to eliminate poverty, to promote people- centered and

sustainable development and progressively remove the wide disparities in living standards and

overcome the special challenges facing members in small states and less developed countries.


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The Commonwealth also collectively striving after international peace and security, the rule of

international law, the elimination of people smuggling and scourge of terrorism.

Africa Asia Caribbean

and Americas

Europe Pacific

Botswana

Cameroon

Ghana

Kenya

Lesotho

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Bangladesh

Brunei

Darussalam

India

Malaysia

Maldives

Pakistan

Singapore

Sri Lanka

Antigua and

Barbuda

Bahamas, The

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

Cyprus

Malta

United Kingdom

Australia

Fiji

Kiribati

Nauru

New Zealand

Papua New

Guinea

Samoa

Solomon Islands

Tonga
http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/botswanahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/cameroonhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/ghanahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/kenyahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/lesothohttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/malawihttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/mauritiushttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/mozambiquehttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/namibiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/bangladeshhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/brunei-darussalamhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/brunei-darussalamhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/indiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/malaysiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/maldiveshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/pakistanhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/singaporehttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/sri-lankahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/antigua-and-barbudahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/antigua-and-barbudahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/bahamashttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/barbadoshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/belizehttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/canadahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/dominicahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/grenadahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/guyanahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/jamaicahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/cyprushttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/maltahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/united-kingdomhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/australiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/fijihttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/kiribatihttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/nauruhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/new-zealandhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/papua-new-guineahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/papua-new-guineahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/samoahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/solomon-islandshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/tongahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/tongahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/solomon-islandshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/samoahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/papua-new-guineahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/papua-new-guineahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/new-zealandhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/nauruhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/kiribatihttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/fijihttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/australiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/united-kingdomhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/maltahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/cyprushttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/jamaicahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/guyanahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/grenadahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/dominicahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/canadahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/belizehttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/barbadoshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/bahamashttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/antigua-and-barbudahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/antigua-and-barbudahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/sri-lankahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/singaporehttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/pakistanhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/maldiveshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/malaysiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/indiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/brunei-darussalamhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/brunei-darussalamhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/bangladeshhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/namibiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/mozambiquehttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/mauritiushttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/malawihttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/lesothohttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/kenyahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/ghanahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/cameroonhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/botswana


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Nigeria

Rwanda

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

South Africa

Swaziland

Uganda

United Republic

of Tanzania

Zambia

St Kitts and

Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and

The Grenadines

Trinidad and

Tobago

Tuvalu

(Members of the Commonwealth: Countries by region. Source: http://thecommonwealth.org/member-countries)

By these values that the Commonwealth implies are very crucial for Great Britain to gain

back its imperial power. To further explain, let me discuss about the characteristics of the

Commonwealth.

The first characteristic of the Commonwealth is that membership is voluntary. This

underlines the acceptance that all members are equal within the association even if they were at
http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/nigeriahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/rwandahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/seychelleshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/sierra-leonehttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/south-africahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/swazilandhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/ugandahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/united-republic-tanzaniahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/united-republic-tanzaniahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/zambiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-kitts-and-nevishttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-kitts-and-nevishttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-luciahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-vincent-and-grenadineshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-vincent-and-grenadineshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/trinidad-and-tobagohttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/trinidad-and-tobagohttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/tuvaluhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/tuvaluhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/trinidad-and-tobagohttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/trinidad-and-tobagohttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-vincent-and-grenadineshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-vincent-and-grenadineshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-luciahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-kitts-and-nevishttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/st-kitts-and-nevishttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/zambiahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/united-republic-tanzaniahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/united-republic-tanzaniahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/ugandahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/swazilandhttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/south-africahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/sierra-leonehttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/seychelleshttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/rwandahttp://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/nigeria


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one time a colony or trust territory overseen by a central power. The difference with the

Commonwealth then and now is that the membership is voluntary meaning, no force done.

Next, all members must be independent sovereign states, each responsible for its own policies.

But the Commonwealth practice allows dependencies of member countries to be eligible for

some form of Commonwealth technical assistance or to be represented at events such as

regional discussion forums though not at policy making meetings.

Each member country is responsible for its own policies but all Commonwealth countries

must act within a culture of consultation and cooperation. By consulting, it provides strength and

a form for understanding each members positions. It also permits action on the basis of

consensus that distinguishes the Commonwealth from many other international groupings. And

last is that the Commonwealth requires that all of the associations work should be directed to the

common interest of the Commonwealths people and to the promotion of international

understanding and world peace. According to Shridath Ramphal (1975-1990), the true value of

the Commonwealth derives not from likeness or even like-mindedness but from variety. It

derives from the fact that this family facility is a commingling of the worlds diversity. What the

Commonwealth tries to do is to harmonize difference over a wider range and to further degree

than any other grouping.

All of these values and characteristics of the Commonwealth is the key for Great Britain

to gain back its imperial power. Remember that US used benevolent assimilation and propaganda

to gain its power and were very successful with it. In the case of the Commonwealth, Great

Britain can also use the same tactic as what the US did. Not relying heavily on benevolent

assimilation but with propaganda as its way to attract more countries to join the Commonwealth.

I have also discussed in one of the characteristics of the Commonwealth is that a country doesnt

need to be in monarchy to belong but a country can also be republican or democracy if it wishes.

What the Commonwealth upholds the most is peace internationally and within its member; its

a great propaganda and everyone will buy it because everyone wants to achieve peace.

Great Britain cant gain back its lost imperial power by itself alone given the bad

practices that it had done in the past (social class, racism, discrimination, abuse of power, etc.)

Great Britain will regain its imperial power because of its Commonwealth.


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(The 53 countries that is part of the Commonwealth)

Overseas Territories

The British Oversea Territories are comprised by fourteen different territories under the

jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom. These countries are those territories which

have not acquire independence during the decolonization period, unlike the CommonwealthRealms, but rather voted to remain as British Territories. Even though, each has their own

internal leadership, most being self-governing, they share one head of state, The British

Monarch. Despite the fact that historically, these territories belonged to the United Kingdom,

several disputes sprang among the countries which claims sovereignty to these territories. The

British Antarctic Territory which is claimed by Chile and Argentina; the British Indian Ocean

Territory which is claimed by Mauritius and Seychelles; South Georgia and South Sandwich

Islands, and the Falkland Islands which are claimed by the Argentineans (this dispute also caused

the Falkland Islands Battle between the Government of Argentina and United Kingdom); the

Spanish claim upon Gibraltar.

The Overseas Territories give Britain a global strategic reach in support of their

international objectives. The Ascension Islands provide an airfield which plays a crucial part of

the air bridge to the Islands. In British India Oversea Territory, the faculties as allied operations


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across the Middle East and South East Asia; in Cyprus, Great Britain military based was

established to provide valuable training environment and provide extensive support for UK

operations in Afghanistan and Iraq; in Gibraltar, it served as a permanent military base and

responsible for forward mounting of operations in the Mediterranean and North America. The

best example of Great Britains dedication in protecting his overseas territories can be seen in

Falklands War.

Falklands War

Fought in 1982, the Falklands War was the result of the Argentine invasion of the British-

owned Falkland Islands. Located in the South Atlantic, Argentina had long claimed these islands

as part of its territory. On April 2, 1982, Argentine forces landed in the Falklands, capturing the

islands two days later. In response, the British dispatched a naval and amphibious task force to

the area. The initial phases of the conflict occurred mainly at sea between elements of the Royal

Navy and the Argentine Air Force. On May 21, British troops landed and by June 14 had

compelled the Argentine occupiers to surrender. Due to this several claims and disputes, the

Government of the United Kingdom sees that its primary responsibility is the defense and

security of its territories abroad. They aimed to counter external threats, international terrorism,

and organized crime to ensure its security. The U.K. Government will continue to maintain an

independent ability to defend the Territories including their territorial waters and air-space

from any external security threats they may face.

In order for the United Kingdom to establish itself as a new global power, It must first

maintain the security in its territories abroad.

IIMethodology

After understanding what happened during the rise and fall of the British Empire, mainquestion still remains unanswered: can Great Britain revive its imperial power? To answer the

question, I will use Alfred Mahans Sea power theory and I will also discuss why Mahans

theory is the best fit for this situation. Now, a little background about Mahan:

Alfred Thayer Mahan


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Alfred Thayer Mahan was an American naval officer who emphasized the importance of

sea power as a major factor in geopolitics. He departed in several key ways from other theorist of

his era including MacKinders heartland theory. Mahan was convinced that beginning with the

Age of Exploration, the nations that achieved great power status did so because they mastered

sea power. He felt that any country building a fleet could destroy an enemys main force in a

single battle would become a hegemonic force.

To a degree, Mahan based his views on an analysis of the conflicts occurring from the

17th

through 18th

century particularly with Great Britain and France. It is Mahans fundamental

assumption regarding the importance of sea power was his belief that economic competition sat

at the heart of all rivalry between nations. Another essential in Mahans viewpoint was the

commercial expansion through trade. As a naval officer, the thinks that sea power is necessary

not merely to military success, but instrumental in sharing economic success. His main proposal

was that countries should use their resources when not at war to construct a maritime apparatus

that was capable of promoting commercial activities as well as military one. Believing that sea

power was central, he emphasized the highway aspect of the sea and argued that any country that

was dependent on the world economy needed to be able to secure access to the world and could

only do so if no enemy fleet dominated the seas.

Sea Power Theory: Is it still applicable in this Era?

Mahans influence on the development of an extensive American naval fleet is one of his

major contributions to the world. Though he agreed with MacKinder in his belief that heartlands

does exist and are quite dynamic. What differentiates Mahan from other thinkers is his constant

emphasis on the overarching significance of sea power and sea transport which he felt were

destined to remain the dominant mode of international interaction even now that land

transportations are increasingthis is the main reason why I choose Mahanstheory.

Great Britain together with its colonies is unlike Russia or China. They are different in

the sense that Russia and China was a huge chunk of land mass unlike Great Britain and its

coloniesthey are scattered everywhere to different parts of the world. And because of this, for

Great Britain to reclaim its lost imperial power or to be a hegemonic force, it must first do three

things: (1) It must strengthen its economic power (2) It must strengthen its military power


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especially its naval fleets not just in Great Britain but in all of its colonies (3) Reform in their

ideology (which was conservatism).

Mahans perspective that a nation could not achieve influence on a global scale without

developing a powerful navy, through the strategic mobility and flexibility provided by seapower, could increase the nations status quo. But the events in the 20

th century tended to

diminish the validity of Mahan and his theories concerning the overriding significance of sea

power. The World War I and II, followed by the Cold War marked the last hundred years as

largely one spent in preventing single power hegemony over the Eurasian landmass. The

territorial context overshadowed the prospect for a predominantly maritime based military

strategy. Sometimes even wrongly interpreting the easy trade-off ability of maritime and land

based strategies. Technologic innovation in the form of the aircraft and submarine also

challenged the continued viability of the traditional surface based navy.

Using Mahans Sea Power theory to revive Great Britains imperial power will provide

them maritime superiority through: 1) the ability to protect global economic interest 2) strategic

flexibility and mobility 3) political influence or, if needed, coercion capability of combat

credible maritime-based forces.

Alliance and Partnership: the United States

Alliances and partnerships will remain a fundamental part of the British approach to

defense and security. Maintaining and building constructive and reciprocal bilateral relationships

across all aspects of national security can enhance capability and maximize efficiency.

Supporting the development of major multilateral institutions and instruments can reinforce a

more forceful rules-based international system and reflect the changing balance of global power.

The term Special Relationship is used by the Americans and the British to describe the

uniquely close connection between the United States and the United Kingdom. In World War I,

U.S. and U.K. fought together and in World War II, the Unites States entered the European

portion of the conflict in order to defend the United Kingdom and other European Allies. The

United Kingdom was the only top world power to support the United States in the Iraq War. The

United States and the United Kingdom share enormous trade and economic relations. On the

diplomatic front, both are among the founders of the United Nations, NATO, World Trade

Organization, G-8, and host of other international bodies.


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The goal of this partnership is to enhance the strategic counter-terrorism relationship, which

includes sharing access to key capabilities to enable better border security, transport security,

working together in third world countries to address the shared threat and increasing the amount

of joint funding of science and technology programs. Enhance the cooperation on cyber security

through the existing close defense and intelligence relationships. To strengthen cooperation in

the approaches to the most serious resilience risks, including through shared assessments and,

where appropriate, joint programs; to enhance the vital intelligence contribution to the bilateral

relationship; to intensify the governments efforts to set the international agenda on nuclear non-

proliferation and broader arms control and maintain military capabilities that provide maximum

mutual benefit.

It is right to say that in having to compete with the worlds new super powers, Great

Britain finds it imperative to ally itself with one of the most formidable country on the globe

The United States of America. By doing so, there is a greater chance for the British to enhance it

military defenses and protecting its national interests.

IVConclusion

Great Britain and todays world and the role of the US are striking. In both a single power

plays a dominant and sometimes hegemonic role in maintenance of global economic and military

stability; in both there is a long period when there was no true peer completion; in both,economic and security issues have significant overlap; in both liberal global economic

integration is encouraged by the dominant power; in both this integration significantly benefits a

number of other states and in both military is employed for status quo through forward presence,

crisis response and environmental shaping.

There are three points why I used Mahans theory in reviving Great Britains imperial

power. These are: 1) through sea power, Great Britain will have the ability to protect global

economic interests 2) strategic flexibility and mobility 3) political influence or if needed,coercion capability of combat credible maritimebased forces.

Both the immediate and long-term future is best characterized by the globalization within

which escalating economic interdependence fosters increasing global prosperity. The rate of


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global change has reached unparalleled levels and appears to have no end in sight as an

increasingly integrated worldwide free market (Thomas Friedman, 1999)

At this day and time, how will Great Britain achieve its sea power given that US, Russia

and China are in the top of their game? The answer is simple: globalization. The concept ofglobalization if often mistaken as a synonym for information revolution whereas people can go

to their laptops, type and search anything on Google, order almost any product over the

internet: clothes, foods, books, used car or brand new car, groceries, movies the possibility is

endless with the technology that we have today but that doesnt mean that it is globalization.

The US Presidents national security strategy defines globalization as the process of

accelerating economic, technological, cultural and political integration; that is, bringing citizens

from all continents closer together, allowing them to share ideas, goods and information in an

instant. At its most basic core todays globalization system is a political economic phenomenon

that combines the internationalization of commerce, the inter-actions of nation-states moving

toward the benefits of greater integration and the supranational organizations empowered to

achieve that end. When this system works to the mutually satisfactory benefit of its participants,

economic activity and integration are generally treated on the same level, often even above its

security considerations. Should it be perceived to be unsatisfactory, narrower domestic political

and security consideration will inevitably take priority for the disaffected actors. This continuum

of interplay between economics and defense is not a profound departure from the pre-

globalization era. Understanding this often overlooked truth is critical to understanding

globalizations reality and potential.

The openness and economic freedom that underpins globalization does not exist by

chance or fortunate instances. In the case of Great Britain, it has already open itself to the world

in the late 19th

century and that is vital for the revival of Great Britains imperial power. The

hegemonic stability is a theory that relies on the existence of a dominant state with a symbolic

economic and military capability that can be used to entice or compel others to accept an open

trading structure. The hegemonic state will opt for an open system because it increases its

national aggregate income, economic growth and political power while mitigating any social

instability resulting from exposure to international system.


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Keohane, who first identified the medium through which the power of the hegemon is

translated to global stability: the construction and safeguarding of strong international regimes

that provide the norms, rules and procedures that guide the behaviour of states and other

important actors. Such regimes can also be thought of an international arrangements or

agreements and may be found between different types of international actors nation-states,

multinational corporations, supranational organizations, etc. what is important is that strength of

the international regime and its ability to influence predictable international activity vice its

implicit or explicit nature.

I strongly believed that globalization within the Commonwealth will take a major role in

the success of the Mahans sea power theory given the present situation. By opening the

connection of Great Britain to its formers colonies and the members of commonwealth through

trade are enough for Great Britain to secure its economic status. Once they have regained their

economic status, since they dont have any more colonies to protect unlike in the World War II,

Great Britain can focus on strengthening their military power their maritime power to be exact.

Globalization is the key to their maritime strengthening. Given that they can gain influence

Atlantic Ocean through Canada, Indian Ocean through India. The success of their naval

strengthening lies within the Commonwealth.

Here are my premises for Great Britains Imperial Revival: (1) Retain the British

Colonies through creating foreign policies which would not only benefit the home country but

the overseas territories as well. (2) Enhance the British Armed Forces and the Royal Navy

(3)Military deployment in the Overseas territory (4)Protect global economic interest (5) Form

alliance with the United States especially to other members of the other world organizations.


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(World map)

VReference/s:

The Decline, Revival and Fall of the British Empireby J. Gallagher (CambridgeUniversity Press, 1982)

The Oxford History of the British Empire: the Twentieth Century by J.M.Brown andW.R.Louis (eds) (Oxford University Press, 1999) esp. Chs. 3, 4, 14, 15, 18.

Escape from Empire: The Attlee Government and the Indian Problemby R.J.Moore(Oxford University Press, 1983)

European Decolonisation 1918-1981: a Surveyby R.F.Holland (Macmillan, 1985)


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Britain and Decolonisation: the Retreat from Empire in the Post-War Worldby J.Darwin(Macmillan,1988)

Britain and Empire: Adjusting to a Post-Imperial Worldby L.J.Butler, (I.B.Tauris, 2002) Anti-Colonialism in British Politics: the Left and the End of Empire, 1918-1964by

S.Howe, (Oxford University Press, 1994)

Emergencies and Disorders in the European Empires after 1945 edited by R.F.Holland,(Frank Cass, 1994).

British Culture and the End of Empire edited by S.Ward, (Manchester University Press,2002)

The Making of the New Commonwealthby R.J.Moore (Oxford University Press, 1987)

The Influence of Sea Power Upon History by Alfred Thayer Mahan, 1889(www.gutenberg.org/files/13529/13529.txt)

The Context of Mahans Debatable Zoneby W.D.Walters (Illinois State University)
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13529/13529.txthttp://www.gutenberg.org/files/13529/13529.txt

great britain and its imperial revival

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