Jophiel
Trend Setting 'Gender Tourist' since 2018.
- Location
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Pronouns
- she/her, they/them.
Eric Blair, or George Orwell was known for many works, specifically often '1984' and 'Animal Farm' amongst most political commentators, but also 'Homage to Catalonia' for many Anarchists. However, something he's less well known for is his writing on what he wished for the British Empire. He seems to have been conflicted with his views regarding the British Empire, publishing 'Shooting an Elephant' with pretty clear themes of anti-Imperialism, but then there is his other writings in his essays:
"To a Labour government in power, three imperial policies would have been open."
"One was to continue administering the Empire exactly as before, which meant dropping all pretensions to Socialism."
"Another was to set the subject peoples 'free', which meant in practice handing them over to Japan, Italy and other predatory powers, and incidentally causing a catastrophic drop in the British standard of living."
"The third was to develop a positive imperial policy, and aim at transforming the Empire into a federation of Socialist states, like a looser and freer version of the Union of Soviet Republics. But the Labour Party's history and background made this impossible. It was a party of the trade unions, hopelessly parochial in outlook, with little interest in imperial affairs and no contacts among the men who actually held the Empire together. It would have had to hand the administration of India and Africa and the whole job of imperial defence to men drawn from a different class and traditionally hostile to Socialism. Overshadowing everything was the doubt whether a Labour government which meant business could make itself obeyed. For all the size of its following, the Labour Party had no footing in the navy, little or none in the army or air force, none whatever in the Colonial Services, and not even a sure footing in the Home Civil Service. In England its position was strong but not unchallengeable, and outside England all the points were in the hands of its enemies. Once in power, the same dilemma would always have faced it: carry out your promise, and risk revolt, or continue with the same policy as the Conservatives, and stop talking about Socialism. The Labour leaders never found a solution, and from 1935 onwards it was very doubtful whether they had any wish to take office. They had degenerated into a Permanent Opposition."
He also suggests the policies of which to do this, notably anti-fascist:"1. Nationalization of land, mines, railways, banks and major industries.
2. Limitation of incomes, on such a scale that the highest tax-free income in Britain does not exceed the lowest by more than ten to one.
3. Reform of the educational system along democratic lines.
4. Immediate Dominion status for India, with power to secede when the war is over.
5. Formation of an Imperial General Council, in which the coloured peoples are to be represented.
6. Declaration of formal alliance with China, Abyssinia and all other victims of the Fascist powers."
With his policy further explained, he goes onto write about India especially:"If India were simply 'liberated', i.e. deprived of British military protection, the first result would be a fresh foreign conquest, and the second a series of enormous famines which would kill millions of people within a few years.
What India needs is the power to work out its own constitution without British interference, but in some kind of partnership that ensures its military protection and technical advice. This is unthinkable until there is a Socialist government in England.
That, roughly, is what would be meant by Dominion status if it were offered to India by a Socialist government. It is an offer of partnership on equal terms until such time as the world has ceased to be ruled by bombing planes. But we must add to it the unconditional right to secede. It is the only way of proving that we mean what we say. And what applies to India applies, mutatis mutandis, to Burma, Malaya and most of our African possessions."
Now, I don't know how the hell this could happen, but a United Social Republics of the Commonwealth is a completely bonkers idea that I just can't help but like the idea of for a Timeline. How would World War Two factor in, if at all? How would disputes between the British government and colonial ones? Is there a potential cold war scenario between the USRC, USSR, and USA, even if one of those is hopelessly outmatched? Most importantly, how does this set of events occur?
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