Was the British Empire a good or bad thing for the world? To put it another way, is freedom a good or bad thing for the world? Historian and author H.W. Crocker III explains why we may want to rethink the British Empire’s bad rap.
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The notion of a Constitution that limits the powers of the government (and the legislature in particular) is a US innovation, though. It may have some precedents somewhere — but certainly not in the UK, whose legislature has unlimited power and no constitution.
It’s interesting to look at the influence of the Dutch Republic, more limited perhaps and certainly not well known. But it’s well enough documented in the Federalist Papers and other writings of that era. There are also striking similarities in approach between the Declaration of Independence and the corresponding Dutch document about two centuries earlier. There’s no evidence the one directly influenced the other, though.
You may be overlooking the Magna Carta.
Bingo.
Your point is perfectly taken, Bill — but the Irish also have the benefit if freedom and British style democracy.
Though we had a big fight with them, we would not have our democracy stuff if they hadn’t put in 5 or 600 yrs or so of work on democracy stuff themselves.
Other than the Irish I was not aware that the British Empire had “a bad rep”. Compare the countries colonized by Spain – throughout South America, vs the colonies of Britain.
Which countries have been the more stable with more freedom?
I suspect people in India might not be so positive. And Pakistan is definitely an example of a failed state that was a British colony. But yes, Canada, Australia, those certainly came out well.
You only reason Pakistan came into being was because the Muslims hated the Hindus and vice versa. And then why Bangladesh separated from Pakistan I’d have to look it up. So maybe there is Lameck culture was stronger than the British culture.
India certainly has been a stable state.
The common denominator is parliamentary democracy. The people of India have it.