British Imperialism Revisited: The Cost and Benefits of "Anglobalization"

Economic historians continue to debate the causes of the 'great divergence of economic'fortunes which has characterized the last half millennium. In this debate, the role ofcolonialism—and specifically the British Empire—must needs play a crucial role. Ifgeography, climate and disease provide a sufficient explanation for the widening ofglobal inequalities, then the policies and institutions exported by British imperialism wereof marginal importance;4 the agricultural, commercial and industrial technologiesdeveloped in Europe from 1700 onwards were bound to work better in temperate regionswith good access to sea routes. However, if the key to economic success lies in theadoption of legal, financial and political institutions favourable to technical innovationand capital accumulation—regardless of location, mean temperature and longevity—thenit matters a great deal that by the end of the nineteenth century a quarter of the world wasunder British rule.