FELLOW CITIZENS AND IMPERIAL SUBJECTS: CONQUEST AND SOVEREIGNTY IN EUROPE'S OVERSEAS EMPIRES
Anthony Pagden
This article traces the association between European overseas empires and concept of sovereignty, arguing that, ever since days Cicero—if not earlier—Europeans had clung to idea that there was a close people territory it happened occupy. made necessary think an “empire” as unity—an “immense body,” use Tacitus's phrase—that would embrace all its subjects under single sovereign. By end eighteenth century become possible, in this way, speak “empires liberty” operate for ultimate benefit their “citizens,” freeing them from previous tyrannical rulers bringing protection more benign regimes. In such sovereignty could only be, Europe, undivided. The collapse Europe's “first” Americas, however, followed rapidly by Napoleon's attempt create new kind Empire Europe. ultimate, costly, failure project led many, Benjamin Constant among them, believe age now over been replaced commerce. But what fact succeeded Napoleon modern state system, which attempted replace empire trade, hoped, but empire, one sought minimize domination settlement, make sharp distinction imperial ruler subject. be “divided.” Various kinds divided rule were thus devised nineteenth century. Far, being improvement on past, ultimately resulted in—or at least contributed greatly to—the emergence largely fictional inevitably unstable societies after final became states “developing world.”
History and Theory