The British Empire - Imperial Attitudes 1900-39

Robert Pearce looks at a turning point in the history of mentalities, when the way Britons perceived themselves and others changed forever.

The men who governed Britain and the Empire – ministers, members of parliament, colonial governors, home and imperial civil servants – were all unique individuals. No two were identical in their psychological make-up any more than in physical appearance. Yet they had much in common, in terms of social back- ground, education, conscious beliefs and unconscious assumptions. They are often said to comprise a relatively homogeneous governing class which, around 1914, shared an 'imperial mentality', a common core of values and attitudes derived from the British Empire. This article seeks to identify the content and the origins of their 'world view' and to establish how far, if at all, it changed under the onslaught of the First World War.

To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive.

Buy Online Access  Buy Print & Archive Subscription

If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.

Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.