The second British Empire : in the crucible of the twentieth century / Timothy H. Parsons.

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At its peak, the British Empire spanned the world and linked diverse populations in a vast network of exchange that spread people, wealth, commodities, cultures, and ideas around the globe. By the turn of the twentieth century, this empire, which made Britain one of the premier global superpowers, appeared invincible and eternal. This compelling book reveals, however, that it was actually remarkably fragile. Reconciling the humanitarian ideals of liberal British democracy with the inherent authoritarianism of imperial rule required the men and women who ran the empire to portray their non-Western subjects as backward and in need of the civilizing benefits of British rule. However, their lack of administrative manpower and financial resources meant that they had to recruit cooperative local allies to actually govern their colonies. Timothy H. Parsons provides vivid detail of the experiences of subject peoples to explain how this became increasingly difficult and finally impossible after World War II as Afr

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CHOICE Review

Parsons (African history, Washington Univ.) offers fascinating insights into the last decades of British colonial rule and, especially, its long-lasting effects both abroad and at home. In interesting and nuanced ways, the author demonstrates the ways in which imperial rule altered the attitudes, culture, music, and cuisine of colonial peoples and British society. By examining the inherent contractions of empire in the 20th century, Parsons not only demonstrates the complex nature of empire but also provides a better template for judging who benefited and who lost in the development of European empires. He argues that a two-way dialogue existed within the British Empire and that colonized people did "speak back," but too often, the British muted or ignored their voices. Parsons's broad approach allows him to usefully analyze the influence of empire on the processes of globalization. A welcome addition to a growing body of work that examines the final decades of the British Empire for specialists and students alike. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. --John Rankin, East Tennessee State University