Winston S. Churchill on Empire by Kirk Emmert

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This work explores the political thought of Winston Churchill be means of a study of his views on empire. It is a book both for those interested in empire or modern imperialism and in Winston Churchill. While focusing on Churchill's thought, this study also illuminates Churchill the statesman, for it discusses the grounds for his life-long support of the British Empire.

A coherent, elevated view of empire emerges from Churchill's own writings and speeches, including particularly his early books, The Story of the Malakand Field Force, The River War, and My African Journey. In his opposition to both "Little Englanders" and to "unbridled imperialists" he defended what he viewed as a moderate, essentially political understanding of empire. Contrary to current critics of imperialism, Churchill argued that properly constituted imperial rule was civilizing in that it improved both rulers and ruled, preparing the ruled for self-government and cultivating the moral and political excellence of the rulers. He explored the compatibility of this civilizing empire with modern democracy: Might, he inquiries, imperial responsibilities elevate mass democratic politics or are, as many critics contend, democracy and empire incompatible?

Churchill's argument for civilizing empire is based on an essentially undemocratic view of morality and of the political order. Yet, Churchill was at the same time an eloquent defender of parliamentary democracy. A study of his views on civilizing and democratic empire is thus a particularly illuminating way to clarify the extent to which he had reservations about modern democracy in the name of a more aristocratic view of politics.

This book seeks to develop a clear, orderly, undistorted account of Churchill's views by allowing him to speak for himself through his own writings and speeches. While taking account of later developments in his views, the book's chapters develop sequentially Churchill's argument for civilizing and democratic empire. To an unusual extent for an advocate, Churchill also saw the darker side of empire. Thus the book concludes by employing him as a critic of his own defense of democratic empire.

Table of Contents

1. Wealth, Security and Power
2. Civilization
3. Empire and hte Uncivilized
4. Empire and the Civilized
5. Democratic and Civilizing Empire
6. The Colonial Empire and the English-Speaking Peoples
7. Some Reservations: Is Empire Civilizing?
   Endnotes
   Index