Politics & Government
![Priyamvada Gopal - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001HPIKMM.jpg)
Insurgent Empire: Anticolonial Resistance and British Dissent
How rebellious colonies changed British attitudes to empireInsurgent Empire shows how Britain's enslaved and colonial subjects were active agents in their own liberation. What is more, they shaped British ideas of freedom and emancipation back in the United Kingdom.
Priyamvada Gopal examines a century of dissent on the question of empire and shows how British critics of empire were influenced by rebellions and resistance in the colonies, from the West Indies and East Africa to Egypt and India. In addition, a pivotal role in fomenting resistance was played by anticolonial campaigners based in London, right at the heart of empire.
Much has been written on how colonized peoples took up British and European ideas and turned them against empire when making claims to freedom and self-determination. Insurgent Empire sets the record straight in demonstrating that these people were much more than victims of imperialism or, subsequently, the passive beneficiaries of an enlightened British conscience-they were insurgents whose legacies shaped and benefited the nation that once oppressed them.
Priyamvada Gopal examines a century of dissent on the question of empire and shows how British critics of empire were influenced by rebellions and resistance in the colonies, from the West Indies and East Africa to Egypt and India. In addition, a pivotal role in fomenting resistance was played by anticolonial campaigners based in London, right at the heart of empire.
Much has been written on how colonized peoples took up British and European ideas and turned them against empire when making claims to freedom and self-determination. Insurgent Empire sets the record straight in demonstrating that these people were much more than victims of imperialism or, subsequently, the passive beneficiaries of an enlightened British conscience-they were insurgents whose legacies shaped and benefited the nation that once oppressed them.
Editorial Reviews
"A superb study of anticolonial resistance in the British Empire from the 1857 Indian uprising to the Kenyan Mau Mau revolt a century later … As it weaves together these intellectual and geographical strands, this wonderful book brings back to life a glorious cast of characters."
-Sudhir Hazareesingh, Times Literary Supplement ("Books of the Year, 2019")
"[Insurgent Empire] sets out to celebrate the political agency of colonised peoples, its importance in bringing an end to empire and the impact it had on metropolitan liberal and radical thinking."
-Matthew Reisz, Times Higher Education
"Priyamvada Gopal has calmly and authoritatively produced this impressive study of resistance against Empire, in the face of the kind of constant hostility that only serves to reminds us why her work is so urgent in the first place. We all owe her a debt."
-Afua Hirsch, author of Brit(ish)
"A superb study of anticolonial resistance."
-Guardian
"An outstanding contribution to our understanding of the struggles against the British empire."
-Andrew Murray, Morning Star
"An audacious, expansive and rigorously researched counter-history of empire. Rather than treat colonized humanity as victims or reactionaries, Gopal's narrative discloses a cast of resisters that shaped the idea of freedom across Britain and its possessions."
-Robbie Shilliam, Johns Hopkins
"It is widely recognised and understood today that colonial dictatorship was resisted from the moment of its imposition. Much less widely known, however, is the record of active dissension from the imperial project within the metropole itself. It is with the multifarious forms assumed by this ‘internal' tradition of dissent that Priyamvada Gopal concerns herself in this extraordinarily valuable and brilliantly readable book. Insurgent Empire covers a vast geographical range (sub-Saharan and north Africa, Afghanistan and India, the Caribbean and the Americas) and tracks historically from the 1857 uprising in North India through to the ‘Mau Mau' insurgency in Kenya a century later. The book contributes something altogether new and exciting to the existing critical literature in its suggestion that the ‘internal' opposition to imperial policies and polities was from the outset a dialogical exercise, premised on an active learning from the anti-colonial movements. Gopal shows that the ideas of freedom, justice and common humanity, in the name of which the metropolitan dissenters against imperialism raised their standard, had themselves taken shape in the struggle against imperialism."
-Neil Lazarus, University of Warwick
"Priyamvada Gopal is an astonishing writer and thinker, one who is fear...
-Sudhir Hazareesingh, Times Literary Supplement ("Books of the Year, 2019")
"[Insurgent Empire] sets out to celebrate the political agency of colonised peoples, its importance in bringing an end to empire and the impact it had on metropolitan liberal and radical thinking."
-Matthew Reisz, Times Higher Education
"Priyamvada Gopal has calmly and authoritatively produced this impressive study of resistance against Empire, in the face of the kind of constant hostility that only serves to reminds us why her work is so urgent in the first place. We all owe her a debt."
-Afua Hirsch, author of Brit(ish)
"A superb study of anticolonial resistance."
-Guardian
"An outstanding contribution to our understanding of the struggles against the British empire."
-Andrew Murray, Morning Star
"An audacious, expansive and rigorously researched counter-history of empire. Rather than treat colonized humanity as victims or reactionaries, Gopal's narrative discloses a cast of resisters that shaped the idea of freedom across Britain and its possessions."
-Robbie Shilliam, Johns Hopkins
"It is widely recognised and understood today that colonial dictatorship was resisted from the moment of its imposition. Much less widely known, however, is the record of active dissension from the imperial project within the metropole itself. It is with the multifarious forms assumed by this ‘internal' tradition of dissent that Priyamvada Gopal concerns herself in this extraordinarily valuable and brilliantly readable book. Insurgent Empire covers a vast geographical range (sub-Saharan and north Africa, Afghanistan and India, the Caribbean and the Americas) and tracks historically from the 1857 uprising in North India through to the ‘Mau Mau' insurgency in Kenya a century later. The book contributes something altogether new and exciting to the existing critical literature in its suggestion that the ‘internal' opposition to imperial policies and polities was from the outset a dialogical exercise, premised on an active learning from the anti-colonial movements. Gopal shows that the ideas of freedom, justice and common humanity, in the name of which the metropolitan dissenters against imperialism raised their standard, had themselves taken shape in the struggle against imperialism."
-Neil Lazarus, University of Warwick
"Priyamvada Gopal is an astonishing writer and thinker, one who is fear...
Readers Top Reviews
BuccmasterMarc
Not the easiest of reads but so interesting that it keeps you going. Gopal argues that colonised people always resisted their masters but, importantly, some white colonialists, a number of whom she follows in detail, were able to learn from their thinking and experience. Anti colonialism at its best was based on this ‘reverse pedagogy’ showing the power of mutually tolerant and respectful alliance. So this argument is significant for many political projects, and can hopefully endorse Fenner Brockway’s assertion in his old age that idealism changes reality
Anthony Warcus
Professor Gopal traces the dynamic relationship between anti-colonial resistance (from the Indian Mutiny in 1857 to the Mau Mau in Kenya in the late 1950s) and the few, often isolated individuals and groups in Britain who broke ranks and challenged the idea of Empire. She demonstrates how these liberal or radical thinkers and politicians reconsidered their acceptance of Empire through visits to the colonies, coverage of atrocities or encounters with the few colonials who made it to the Britain. Combining an expertly delivered narrative with a study of prior interpretations of these encounters, this is an invaluable work which quotes extensively from both colonisers and colonised. I appreciated the close reading of speeches delivered by these dissenters - especially those from the period of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century when they’d clearly be going against the overwhelming consensus of the time. Sadly, it was impossible not to speculate that these would in all likelihood have been lone voices in the wilderness perceived as disloyal and cranky by most “right thinking” people, even if they left a trail for later generations. There’s an extensive and excellent bibliography. While there are a few pictures, it’s a bit disappointing the publishers didn’t include more. If Simon Schama and Niall Ferguson get lavish illustrations with their publications so too should Professor Gopal.
Jo
Packed with information about those who had the courage and vision to stand up against militarists and imperialists. Ignore the one star evaluations that demonstrate how colonisers hate the people they colonised even while claiming they did it all with the best of intentions.
DavidA. D.
Viciously anti white racist, her venomus words only promote racial tension in a world where we need unity more than anything.
AW
I guess it's an ok product, just some minor damages, no actual damages to the owes, though, the package didn't come with any protection whatsoever, no bubble wrapping or anything
