Legacy of Violence: A History of the British Empire in War Nerd Reading List

Aug 02, 2022 Ezra rated it it was amazing

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Caroline Elkins' previous book was on Britain's 1960s suppression of the Mau Mau independence movement in Kenya, which involved concentration camps, "disappearances", torture, rape, and castration with gardening shears; top officials got high honours in London but survivors won a legal case for compensation in 2012 (which the UK government is dragging its feet on paying, probably hoping more of them die the longer the delays last).

With her new book, Elkins shows that the policies used in Kenya w Caroline Elkins' previous book was on Britain's 1960s suppression of the Mau Mau independence movement in Kenya, which involved concentration camps, "disappearances", torture, rape, and castration with gardening shears; top officials got high honours in London but survivors won a legal case for compensation in 2012 (which the UK government is dragging its feet on paying, probably hoping more of them die the longer the delays last).

With her new book, Elkins shows that the policies used in Kenya were not unique and were used throughout the empire. In addition to repressive violence, the British also tried to control its colonies by fomenting ethnic and religious divisions. This tactic has consequences that affect countries today, from Northern Ireland, to India, Jamaica, Malaya (now Malaysia and Singapore), Cyprus, South Africa, Nyasaland (Malawi), Palestine, and probably the rest of their other colonies.

The following is a quote from Jack Morton, a typical colonial official. He began his career as a policeman in India, moved to the Security Service (MI-5) in Malaya, Aden (Yemen), and then Northern Ireland. The circulation of officials like him ensured the spread of repressive tactics throughout the colonies.

"It dawned on me, and became deeply ingrained, that the British were the rulers of India and that the Indians were a sort of immature, backward and needy people whom it was the natural British function to govern and administer. It was inspiring to realise that I was born into this splendid heritage and that to be British was to be a superior sort of person."

This attitude was widespread and was taught in many stories and histories for children, which emphasized the British mandate to civilize and Christianize the backward peoples of the world. Even the British working class absorbed this lesson, with many recognizing that their relatively affluent way of life was built on the crushing misery of the colonized.

Elkins writes of Britain's "legalized lawlessness", an attempt to give a veneer of legality to its brutal policies by making laws saying it was fine. I'm reminded of John Yoo writing legal memos to justify US torture in Iraq. One wonders why either the US or UK bothered since they had military control of the territory and could do whatever they wanted but I suppose they had to square their actions with their liberal imperialist mission to bring civilization to the savages.

Considering the way the British kicked and fought against decolonization, one can only wonder how the US (and the "West" in general) will act as they lose their own empire. As we look at what's happening around the world right now, we can only say that it's not going to be pretty. ...more

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