The Lion’s Share: A History of British Imperialism, 1850–2011

438 Pages·2013·5.83 MB·English

by  Bernard Porter

From reviews of previous editions
‘This reviewer found it one of the most captivating pieces he had read for a long time:
his book abounds in wit, is studded with brief but telling phrases, and reveals an
unerring eye for the relevant fact and apposite quotation.’
Paul Kennedy, Historical Journal
‘Personal preferences aside, Bernard Porter’s study remains a wonderfully illuminating,
eminently entertaining survey, rich in revealing insights and vivid quotations, from
which readers will continue to gain enormous pleasure and enlightenment.’
Peter Burroughs, Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History
‘A most valuable key to modern British colonial history. From this gripping and lucid
exposition, we may gather an understanding not only of the initial intricacies of
colonial problems...but of their alarming legacies.’
Gerard Douds, History Today
‘Porter provides the best synoptic view yet presented of the empire since the coming
of the New Imperialism...The Lion’s Share is not least a triumph in scholarly
organisation, which develops its main narrative around sensible, big themes which
the reader can grasp while following the author through what is really a complex and
assured global tour of assessment.’
Deryck Schreuder, Historical Studies
‘Clear and readily comprehensible...Imperial history is emotive history at present
and the depth of feeling of most authors often precludes objectivity. Of such prejudices
this book is almost wholly free...All in all, therefore, the book may be counted
a distinct success. It is both easy and enjoyable to read.’
Paul M. Hayes, Times Higher Education Supplement
‘This study is still the best short study of its subject...Some will doubtless treat
it as a textbook: and it is indeed full of accurate information, telling phrases and
aptly-deployed quotations, all presented in a very lively and readable manner. In fact,
it is a clear, coherent and well-substantiated interpretation.’
Iain R. Smith, Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History
‘En kort anmälan kan omöjligen redovisa Porters många stimulerande frågeställnungar
och infallsvinklar. Hans bok redovisar en imponderande beläsenhet. Och den är
briljant skriven.’
[A short review cannot do justice to the many stimulating questions and perspec-
tives Porter provides here. The book reveals him to be impressively well-read. And
it is brilliantly written.]
W. M. Carlgren, Head Archivist at Swedish Foreign Office
‘Glimrende’. [Glittering, brilliant.]
Nyt Fra Historien
Other books by Bernard Porter
Critics of Empire(1968, 2008)
The Refugee Question in Mid-Victorian Politics(1979)
Britain, Europe and the World(1983, 1987)
The Origins of the Vigilant State(1987)
Plots and Paranoia(1989, 1992)
Britannia’s Burden(1994)
The Absent-Minded Imperialists( 2004, 2006)
Empire and Superempire(2006)
The Battle of the Styles(2011)
THE LION’S SHARE
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THE LION’S SHARE
A History of British Imperialism
1850 to the present
Bernard Porter
First published 1975 by Pearson Education Limited
First edition published in 1975
Second edition published 1984
Third edition published 1996
Fourth edition published 2004
Fifth edition published in 2012
Published 2013 by Routledge
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Copyright © 1975, 1984, 1996, 2004, 2012, Taylor & Francis.
The right of Bernard Porter to be identified as author
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with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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ISBN 13: 978­1­4082­8605­0 (pbk) 
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book can be obtained from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Porter, Bernard.
The Lion‘s share : a history of British imperialism, 1850 to the present /
Bernard Porter. -- 5th ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4082-8605-0 (pbk.)
1. Great Britain--Colonies--History--20th century. 2. Great Britain--Foreign relations--
20th century. 3. Great Britain--Colonies--History--19th century. 4. Great Britain--Foreign
relations--1837-1901. 5. Great Britain--Colonies--History--21st century. 6. Great Britain--
Foreign relations--21st century. I. Title.
DA16.P67 2012
909′.0971241--dc23
2012002312
Set by 35 in 11.25/13pt StonePrint
Dedicated to those – or their memory – who set me on the
path to becoming a historian and a scholar in my early years:
Cyril Porter; W. R. Powell;
Alan Mould; Peter Watkins; W. E. ‘Spud’ Barron;
John Roach; R. E. ‘Robbie’ Robinson
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Contents
List of maps and plates xii
Acknowledgements xiv
Preface xv
Chronology, 1850–2011 xxi
1. Introduction 1
Definitions 1
Differences 6
Difficulties 9
2. An empire in all but name: the mid-nineteenth century 11
The world market 11
Creeping colonialism 16
The old empire 19
Native policy 26
Cultural imperialism 31
3. Shifts and expedients: 1857–75 33
The Indian Mutiny 34
After the Mutiny 41
Colonial crises: settlement colonies 49
Colonial crises: tropical colonies 57
The vanguard 61
The opening up of Africa 64
4. Conquests forced on us: 1875–90 69
The European challenge 69
India’s frontiers and Russian expansion 76
The occupation of Egypt 81
The first Boer War 85
German rivalry in the tropics 90
Reluctant imperialists 99
5. Struggles for existence: 1890 105
Britain under siege 105
The ‘new imperialism’ 113
The national interest 121
Capitalists 127