What do you know about... the UK?

[u/MarktpLatz]

This is the sixth part of our ongoing weekly series about the countries of Europe. You can find an overview here.

Todays country:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The UK is the second most populous state in the EU. Famous for once being the worlds leading power, reigning over a large empire, it has recently taken the decision to exit the EU.

So, what do you know about the UK?

[u/AbstractLemgth]

I'd say the package did more good than harm overall.

tell that to the victims of the bengali and irish famines. this is precisely what i'm talking about when i say that the UK population is staggeringly undereducated on the empire.

[u/[deleted] → u/AbstractLemgth]

I'm aware of those. Once again, more good than harm overall, not no harm at all. Assuming ignorance on the part of those who hold opinions you disagree with isn't a good idea. Many very stupid people are convinced that they are the only intelligent person in the room.

[u/AbstractLemgth → u/[deleted]]

I think one has to be staggeringly undereducated to think that the asset stripping of entire countries and the exportation of man-made famines which killed millions of people is outweighed by any of the few 'good' things which the Empire brought during colonial rule. To this day, colonised countries do not have full possession of their own resources because they were handed over to private hands before the UK fucked off.

[u/[deleted] → u/AbstractLemgth]

I think one has to be staggeringly biased to describe the good things provided by the empire as 'few'. Even if we ignore the vast swathes of scientific and technological advance achieved within the Empire, there are the immense infrastructural advances, the introduction of modern legal systems to countries where the rule of law was previously a matter of patronage where it existed at all, the eventual introduction of democracy, the introduction of educational systems, the abolition of slavery and the provision of medicine based on science rather than superstition.

Hell, if you want to see the advantages of the Empire, compare Hong Kong to mainland China. I know which bit I'd want to live in.

[u/AbstractLemgth → u/[deleted]]

vast swathes of scientific and technological advance achieved within the Empire

The Industrial revolution happened in Britain, not in one of it's colonies. In fact, India was deliberately not industrialised by the Empire, and it would not begin to industrialise until the Raj was dismantled. The Indian economy remained stagnant for the entire Raj rule.

the introduction of modern legal systems to countries where the rule of law was previously a matter of patronage where it existed at all

What utter revisionist bollocks. Of course legal systems existed before the nice enlightened British came along. Even then, British law was applied sparingly and arbitrarily - the East India company essentially had free reign to do what it wanted in spite of the law. For that matter, the only people who were 'equal before the law' were the colonists. And that isn't going into the regions, such as India, where the British colonialists adapted and reinforced the Caste system in order to push racial hierarchy and consolidate control over the natives. All of these things being negatives which still apply today. Oh, also, the 'introduction of '''modern legal systems'''' was actually a forced imposition against the will of the natives.

there are the immense infrastructural advances

The infrastructure which was built not only benefited solely the white colonialists, but the proceeds of which were shipped out of the country and back to Britain. For example, the decision to replace Indian food crops with cash crops like cotton (which later resulted in the Bengali famines).

the abolition of slavery

After it's use for decades, using the Empire as a tool to enslave entire populations.

the provision of medicine based on science rather than superstition.

Which pales in comparison to the loss of life of establishing and maintaining the Empire.

You're entire schtick here is that the British invaded other countries, murdering and subjugating their population, but they implemented common law and medicine, so really it cancels out. In reality, the '''''benefits''''' of the Empire were felt only by the white colonialists, who took their wealth with them when they left. If the Empire had never existed, countries like India would not have suffered the loss of over 10 million lives in one event, and would likely be in a far better situation today.

I mean, jesus, Ireland's population has STILL NOT RECOVERED from what the Empire did. How the fuck can you think (wrongly) that a few traintracks outweigh the millions of dead natives?