Present Discontents
Abstract
This essay critiques the modern re-evaluation of the British Empire, arguing that contemporary debates – driven by identity politics, decolonisation rhetoric, and critical race theory – often reduce complex histories to simplistic moral judgments. It highlights how events like protests in Australia and exhibitions in Britain reflect broader cultural battles over imperial legacy. It calls for a more balanced, evidence-based approach to imperial history that acknowledges context, diversity of motives, and indigenous agency, warning against politicised narratives that distort the past to serve present-day agendas.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jeremy Black
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