Imperialism and abolitionism: the original universal attack (original Vietnam) for a moral good and its contemporary consequences (A day in history, African slave trade)
Europe engaged in the slave trade on a massive scale but the hard truth is that they weren’t the first nor the last to do so especially in the African arena. Yet in a twist of events as quickly as they came they began resenting the system ferociously and persuasively.
The modern world is rife with global attempts to impose morals on others. Even today, we have yet to reach a point where people can do as they wish. While there is some debate about others do in their countries though this is hotly debated, the nationalistic paradigm is not as much. For example, the classic point is that communists can do whatever they want in their countries but not China nor Islamic countries. Alternatively, due to the inclusion of Islam in the progressive victimisation, the islamic jihad may be okay in other parts of the world (maybe even in east London) but not China’s exploitation or another’s. To some degree many liberals are sympathetic to other regimes like communist ones so that is okay but not another. The same goes for Muslims and Jews. Everyone wants everyone else to get in line with their foreign policy. Where they see human rights violations they wish to get involved. Few people are motivated by isolationist thinking. It is the duty of the west to enter the rest of the world. Whether you are a fan of Russia or you are a fan of Israel. To be a modernist is to believe it is the job of the west to ensure peace in selected biased countries.
This kind of thinking always has a laugh at Lyotard. There has not and will not cease the pursuit of a single truth. No relativism just monism unless relativism means my way is correct therefore hold to it or else. Yet the prevailing themes of western participation in the global world is frequented by all. Those anti-colonialists believe in partaking in the the rest of the world to rectify the errors of the west. For their imposed imperialism. For civilising those areas. The west did partake in the slave trade and did take their colonial efforts a little too far but their case was just. Their cause was moral. They freed hundreds of thousands of slaves. They used force but the African nations were not going to do so nicely. While the west’s war on communism can be debated, the erosion of slavery shouldn’t. Unlike illiberal Arab or Asian countries it wasn’t religious, it was economic. The imperialists in their rabid abolitionism took to the nations to dispel the horrid practice. To end such a defiant practice. Some lefties may oppose such an action since it is invading another country. Another country can act as it wishes yet when two countries act as they wish, they ought to also do as they please. Deciding where to side is generally on whomever is the smaller group. The invader is not always the devil, it is the perceived problem. Standing beyond the practice is the status.
In this regard, lefties today may decry the actions of the imperialists. Even if the imperialists rid slavery and moved on it would still be a problem. This is not to say that the imperialists did right by the nation but they did try to rebuild. They eviscerated the economy by ridding slavery. Just like the southern states without slavery inflation robbed any plausible attempt for proper institutionalisation. There was exploitation and conflict rising but it was of freed people. At times inferior status but not slaves shipped off to other areas of the continent. They were limited but free to live. This did give the imperialists a superiority complex which they wove but forgetting the liberation cheapens the growth and stabilisation of the area. Going as far back as the Roman Empire helped bury conflicts and engender prosperity. The idea of an expansionist territory wasn’t always terrible. If a smaller group was being mauled by a bigger fish, the whale came along and swallowed them whole. As a part of the empire the small group and the big groups conflict died and instead provided privileges as members of the Empire. It wasn’t all good and stole autonomy but assisted the downtrodden which the abolitionist did in the Africa. It destroyed their empire but saved lives.
A westerner must contest with the issue of slavery. Whether it was handled adequately is a separate story. It is interesting where contemporary left leaning liberals weigh on the Russia-Ukraine war. Those who wish to give foreign aid because of democracy or big bad Russia does sound similar to the anti-communist plunges of the mid century. Those who support Russia against anti-expansionism seem to permit Russia to conquer a freedom seeking people. This push for Russia has little to do with the moral failings of the other and a reflection of the national spot. Maybe some lefties are quite alright with Ukraine and muslims in China situation. Though most liberals and even conservatives find their footing in the western assistance locket. Even these lefties are not isolationists but support staff. The question then becomes what about the good parts that seek to route out the devil. If slavery is highly practiced ought it be eradicated? If China is placing Uyghurs in concentration camps ought we step in? The reason for not doing anything seems to be not moral but political. If China was not as powerful maybe intervention would be approved. Yet there is much verbal protest by leaders and the citizenry. People care what happens in the world even if there is no actual military invasion.
The imperialists saw that nothing was going to happen by complaining and crying so they took action. Much of the grief is to the morbid ramifications. Yet the end of slavery entered an occupation. Is slavery worse? Uncertain but it is an important measure to remember. It may have been wrong but it was ethically charged. It was not in search of exploiting at least not the first thing to come to mind. Instead it was to rid the evil slavery and then potentially be the new master. To take over from the horror for a lesser horror. Whatever the take on the intervention it was a noble thought.
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