The Case for Colonialism

"For the last hundred years, Western colonialism has had a bad name." So began Professor Bruce Gilley's watershed academic article The Case for Colonialism of 2017. The article sparked a global furor, igniting intense debates among critics and defenders in the court of public opinion.

Key Highlights:

• Global Reaction:
  • The Times of London described Gilley as "probably the academic most likely to be no-platformed in Britain."
  • The New York Times labeled him as one of the "panicky white bros" who "proclaim ever more rowdily that the (white) West was, and is, best" and are "busy recyclers of Western supremacism."
• Gilley's Response:
  In this book, Gilley responds to his critics and elaborates on his argument for colonialism. He asserts that the critics lack evidence for their claims and maintains that the case for colonialism is robust, regardless of the colonizer or colonized area examined.

Approach and Tone:

• Patient and Empirical: Gilley employs a methodical and evidence-based approach to defend his stance.
• Humorous yet Exasperated: He incorporates humor while expressing frustration with anti-colonial ideologues.

A Challenge for Scholars:

Gilley calls upon the next generation of scholars of colonialism to revisit the topic. "It is time to make the case for colonialism again," he writes, presenting a bold challenge to explore this controversial perspective.