British Colonial Theories 1570-1850

by Klaus E. Knorr, Harold A. Innis (Foreword by)

Overview

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 maintenance of overseas colonies. For what reasons was the building and preservation of Empire thought profitable or unprofitable to the British nation? Professor Knorr has performed a major service in providing a selection of representative statements in the course of a discussion which proceeds by chronological periods and also by important topics from contemporary events.

The original printing of this work, published in 1944, was received with enthusiastic reviews and went out of print in a few years. An equally warm welcome can be predicted now.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781487592400
Publisher:	University of Toronto Press
Publication date:	12/15/1944
Pages:	450
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Klaus Knorr (1911-1990) was a professor emeritus of public affairs at Princeton University and the director of its Center of International Studies from 1960 to 1968.
Harold A. Innis was a professor of political economy at the University of Toronto and the author of seminal works on media and communication theory.

Table of Contents

Part I. 1. Introduction. 2. Colonial Theories: 1570-1660. 3. Colonial Theories: 1660-1776. 4. The Old Colonial System: Basic Objectives, Conceptions, Policies. Part II. 5. Introduction. 6. Adam Smith and the Dissenters. 7. Colonial Theories: 1776-1815. 8. Bentham, James Mill, and Ricardo. 9. Emigration and Colonization: 1815-1850. 10. The Fall of the Old Colonial System. 11. Some Additional Items in the Balance Sheet of Imperialism. 12. The White Man’s Burden. 13. The Problem of Convict Transportation. 14. A Note on the Lake Poets and Thomas Carlyle. 15. The Middle Class and the Empire.

Editorial Reviews

"This volume is the most comprehensive work that has appeared on the subject of opinion, argument, and theory concerning the establishment and maintenance of British colonies."—American Historical Review
"The volume reflects credit on all concerned as a valuable addition to the literature on mercantilism and the readjustments of the Second British Empire after the loss of the American colonies."—Queen's Quarterly
"The book... is a model of erudition, scholarly interpretation and balanced judgment."—Political Science Quarterly
"This study should have significance not only to students of history and economics but also to those interested in current discussions of colonial problems, especially in relation to international peace and the economic causes of war. As a means of acquiring perspectives on such questions, Mr. Knorr's thoroughgoing survey of how men have attempted to deal with these problems through three centuries of essentially modern history should be very valuable."—American Economic Review

From the Publisher