Economic History of Colonialism

Debates about the origins and effects of European rule in the non-European world have animated the field of economic history since the 1850s. This pioneering text provides a concise and accessible resource that introduces key readings, builds connections between ideas and helps students to develop informed views of colonialism as a force in shaping the modern world. With special reference to European colonialism of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in both Asia and Africa, this book:• critically reviews the literature on colonialism and economic growth;• covers a range of different methods of analysis;• offers a comparative approach, as opposed to a collection of regional histories, deftly weaving together different themes.With debates around globalization, migration, global finance and environmental change intensifying, this authoritative account of the relationship between colonialism and economic development makes an invaluable contribution to several distinct literatures in economic history.

"The authors provide a clear and balanced guide to a burgeoning literature. Emphasizing diversity of outcomes, they consider how colonizers and colonized stimulated or hindered their respective economies, in the light of environmental constraints." William G. Clarence-Smith, SOAS University of London, "This book gives a nuanced view of how colonial rule was not merely intended as an exploitative tool but was a combination of the empire's desire for power, the intended or unintended consequences of their policies as well as local factors." LSE Review of Books

Leigh Gardner is Associate Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics and Research Associate in African Economic History at Stellenbosch University.Tirthankar Roy is Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics.