Some Economic Results of the Civilizing Mission

Alam, M. Shahid (2006): Some Economic Results of the Civilizing Mission. Published in: CounterPunch (13 August 2004)

Abstract

This paper proposes three tasks. It briefly delineates the character of the civilizing mission and the interests it served, especially the colonization of Asia and Africa. In addition, the claims of the civilizing mission and the neoclassical theory of trade are tested empirically by comparing growth rates of sovereign countries and colonies, and of colonies before and after they gained sovereignty. Finally, we offer a quick review of the changing dynamics of the global economy as goods which were hitherto non-tradable become increasingly tradable.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Institution: Northeastern University, Bosotn, MA 02115
• Language: English
• Keywords: Civilizing mission; imperialism; colonization; global economy; neoclassical theory; free trade; growth rates; non-tradable goods; tradable goods
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O11 - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development; P - Economic Systems > P5 - Comparative Economic Systems > P51 - Comparative Analysis of Economic Systems; F - International Economics > F5 - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy > F54 - Colonialism ; Imperialism ; Postcolonialism; F - International Economics > F5 - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy > F59 - Other; P - Economic Systems > P1 - Capitalist Systems > P10 - General; N - Economic History > N0 - General > N00 - General; B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B5 - Current Heterodox Approaches > B51 - Socialist ; Marxian ; Sraffian; P - Economic Systems > P1 - Capitalist Systems > P16 - Political Economy

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