Violence, Moral Imperialism and Colonial Borderlands, 1770s–1820s: Some contradictions of humanitarianism

摘要: This article argues that the genealogy of a politics non-violence might usefully consider promotion moral imperialism as precursor in turn highlights structural difficulties truly non-violent humanitarianism. In imperial case studies examined from colonial borderlands British empire late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, humanitarian intervention tended to be about working out how manage violence, or threat most appropriately. helps explain tight linkages between century philanthropy colonialism, not least transition abolition interventionist arguments. On frontiers states were themselves violent, at always potentially violent. Therefore those who saw philanthropists often forced, sometimes reluctantly but more usually with conviction, into position should made sufficiently deserve monopoly violence. For Indigenous groups (and individuals) this meant they ultimately had choose sides thus particular form rather than escape violence altogether. At same time, international humanitarians, notably missionaries abolitionists, struggled overtly work within structures under pressure serve unofficial bureaucracies. It is helpful trouble somewhat implicit paradigm triangular relationships individual agents victims humanitarians sought protect even though there are important ways which was also true. Such “moral imperialism” infrequently placed on colonized men, particular, one over another, have luxury eschewing readily available white humanitarian.