The scandal of empire : India and the creation of imperial Britain

Many have told of the East India Company’s extraordinary excesses in eighteenth-century India, of the plunder that made its directors fabulously wealthy and able to buy British land and titles, but this is only a fraction of the story. When one of these men—Warren Hastings—was put on trial by Edmund Burke, it brought the Company’s exploits to the attention of the public. Through the trial and after, the British government transformed public understanding of the Company’s corrupt actions by creating an image of a vulnerable India that needed British assistance. Intrusive behavior was recast as a civilizing mission. In this fascinating, and devastating, account of the scandal that laid the foundation of the British Empire, Nicholas Dirks explains how this substitution of imperial authority for Company rule helped erase the dirty origins of empire and justify the British presence in India. The Scandal of Empire reveals that the conquests and exploitations of the East India Company were critical to England’s development in the eighteenth century and beyond. We see how mercantile trade was inextricably linked with imperial venture and scandalous excess and how these three things provided the ideological basis for far-flung British expansion. In this powerfully written and trenchant critique, Dirks shows how the empire projected its own scandalous behavior onto India itself. By returning to the moment when the scandal of empire became acceptable we gain a new understanding of the modern culture of the colonizer and the colonized and the manifold implications for Britain, India, and the world. (20060213)

many Have Told Of The East India Company’s Extraordinary Excesses In Eighteenth-century India, Of The Plunder That Made Its Directors Fabulously Wealthy And Able To Buy British Land And Titles, But This Is Only A Fraction Of The Story. When One Of These Men—warren Hastings—was Put On Trial By Edmund Burke, It Brought The Company’s Exploits To The Attention Of The Public. Through The Trial And After, The British Government Transformed Public Understanding Of The Company’s Corrupt Actions By Creating An Image Of A Vulnerable India That Needed British Assistance. Intrusive Behavior Was Recast As A Civilizing Mission. In This Fascinating, And Devastating, Account Of The Scandal That Laid The Foundation Of The British Empire, Nicholas Dirks Explains How This Substitution Of Imperial Authority For Company Rule Helped Erase The Dirty Origins Of Empire And Justify The British Presence In India.

the Scandal Of Empire Reveals That The Conquests And Exploitations Of The East India Company Were Critical To England’s Development In The Eighteenth Century And Beyond. We See How Mercantile Trade Was Inextricably Linked With Imperial Venture And Scandalous Excess And How These Three Things Provided The Ideological Basis For Far-flung British Expansion. In This Powerfully Written And Trenchant Critique, Dirks Shows How The Empire Projected Its Own Scandalous Behavior Onto India Itself. By Returning To The Moment When The Scandal Of Empire Became Acceptable We Gain A New Understanding Of The Modern Culture Of The Colonizer And The Colonized And The Manifold Implications For Britain, India, And The World.

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dirks, Dean Of The Faculty And A Professor Of Anthropology And History At Columbia, Sets Out To Dismantle The Traditional Explanation That Britain's Empire In India Was, In The Famous Words Of Victorian Historian J.r. Seeley, Acquired In A Fit Of Absence Of Mind. According To Dirks, There Was Nothing Accidental About Britain's Conquest Of The Subcontinent In The Late 18th Century. He Argues That Public Exposure Of The East India Company's Scandalous Corruption By The Philosopher And Politician Edmund Burke During The Warren Hastings Impeachment Trial In 1788 Persuaded The Government To Step In And Administer What The British Regarded As A Vulnerable, Backward Territory. This Intrusive, Imperialist Behavior, Claims The Author, Helped Cover Up The Corruption, Venality, And Duplicity Of Britain's Presence In India, Which Was Recast As A Civilizing Mission That Also Happened To Benefit The British Economy. In Examining The Hastings Case, Dirks Scores Many Points, Vaporizing Comforting Visions Of A Benevolent Empire, And He Expertly Unravels The Complexities Of Burke-too Often Caricatured As A Reactionary. Unfortunately, Portions Of The Book Are Rendered Too Opaque For The General Reader By Dirks's Political Point Scoring And His Digressions Into Academic Squabbles. 9 B&w Photos, 1 Map. (apr.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

The Scandal of Empire reveals that the conquests and exploitations of the East India Company were critical to England's development in the eighteenth century and beyond. In this powerfully written critique, Nicholas Dirks shows how the empire projected its own scandalous behavior onto India itself. By returning to the moment when the scandal of empire became acceptable, we gain a new understanding of the modern culture of the colonizer and the colonized and the manifold implications for Britain, India, and the world. Reveals that the conquests and exploitations of the East India Company were critical to England's development in the 18th Century and beyond. This book shows how the empire projected its own scandalous behaviour onto India itself. It provides an understanding of the modern culture of the coloniser and the colonised and its manifold implications. 'The Scandal of Empire' reveals that the conquests of the East India Company were critical to England's development in the 18th century & beyond. This book shows how the empire projected its own scandalous behaviour onto India itself & provides an understanding of the coloniser & the colonised Contents Illustrations Preface Prologue 1. Scandal 2. Corruption 3. Spectacle 4. Economy 5. Sovereignty 6. State 7. History 8. Tradition 9. Empire Notes. Illustration Credits. Index Notes Illustration Credits Index Nicholas B. Dirks. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 339-373) And Index.