What influenced imperial policy?

The idea

Imperial policy was shaped by a complex interplay of domestic politics, economic interests, international rivalries, and ideological shifts. In the late nineteenth century, policy was heavily influenced by the need to secure trade routes and raw materials, alongside the ideological justification of the 'civilising mission'. International competition, particularly from Germany and France, forced defensive policy decisions. Furthermore, policy was frequently dictated by 'men on the spot'—ambitious colonial administrators like Cecil Rhodes—who acted independently of Whitehall. By the twentieth century, policy shifted towards colonial development and eventual decolonisation, influenced by changing domestic public opinion and international pressure.

What earns the marks

• Assess the influence of domestic political parties and public opinion on the direction of imperial policy.
• Explain how economic lobbies and chartered companies pressured Whitehall into formalising control over territories.
• Analyse the role of international rivalries, such as the threat of Russian expansion towards India, in shaping defensive imperial strategies.
• Evaluate the disproportionate impact of 'men on the spot' in driving policy decisions ahead of official government directives.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming imperial policy was entirely dictated by the government in London.

  Put it right: To include the significant influence of colonial administrators and 'men on the spot'.

• Viewing imperial policy as static over the century.

  Put it right: Contrast the aggressive expansionism of the 1890s with the developmental focus of the 1920s and 1930s.

• Overlooking the impact of international pressure.

  Put it right: Ensure the influence of the League of Nations and later the United Nations is factored into twentieth-century policy shifts.

Exam tips

• Contrast the imperial policies of different Prime Ministers, such as Disraeli's enthusiastic imperialism versus Gladstone's initial reluctance.
• Use specific examples of chartered companies, like the Royal Niger Company, to demonstrate how economic interests directly shaped government policy.
• Consider how the ideological concept of the 'White Man's Burden' was used to justify policy decisions to the British public.