Was All Colonialism Bad?

[Flatmanlewis]

I’m a devoted student of history. This topic came up with a friend and it led to some lively debate.

There isn’t much more to the question but what’s above. Was colonialism entirely bad? I would argue it was not bad. My friend believes that it was.

Obviously the absolute extremes such as the horrific crimes of King Leopold II in the Congo leave no room for debate, but what about other European nations? Do they owe any apology for their colonial history?

[Chazmatazz269]

If you don’t already, you should follow Rafe Heydel-Mankoo. He has made quite a name for himself as both an expert historian and an arguably minority opinion on the privileges he enjoys as the product of a British colonized country. If you look him up on youtube, other intellectuals and debates on the topic will start floating into your feed.
You’ll likely hear great points on both sides. I did. I learned a lot but it didn’t really change my mind. With little exception, nobody is all bad or all good. Therefore, the things we do cannot be all bad or all good. Colonization is no different. The real question is whether or not colonization was more bad than good. That is where i find the intellectual debates more satisfying. The emotional reactions always come off sounding like “UH HUH!” and “UH’ UH!”. Ell oh ell!

[Flatmanlewis]

Looking him up already.

[Flatmanlewis]

Great referral!!

[Astarlessnightsky]

For the colonised countries it always turned out really bad. Genocides, Wars, Exploitation, destruction of culture, slavery, ...

And the mainly European nations did profit from it.

[menina]

OF COURSE IT WAS! Would you like to see your country being invaded, your people getting robbed, beaten up, enslaved and women getting raped? Would you like to see babies from your country being killed or enslaved? I'm pretty sure you WOULD NOT.

So, obviously there was absolutely NOTHING good about colonialism. IT SHOULD NOT NEVER HAD HAPPENED!

[Flatmanlewis]

Okay. Then what about countries where this was not part of the colonial mission. I’d offer as a very, very, simple example The Bahamas. Look at the consequence of the import of British Common Law, courts, infrastructure, financial backing, educational opportunities, and government training in regards to policing and military. Their government is now mostly a stand-alone government but still has strong Commonwealth ties. Their children were not taken or enslaved. They were never invaded or held by a standing army.

Contrast their current status in the world with that of the neighbors in Haiti or the history of the Dominican Republic.

[menina]

I would have to look it up because I don't know much about the Bahamas. I know a bit about Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They do have a complicated past not only because of colonialism and slavery, but also because of racism. From what I could understand Dominicans don't like Haitians.

However, they did have slavery. Otherwise they wouldn't have black people in there.

[menina]

When I say, they I'm talking about the Bahamas.

[Dargil]

Much of it, including Americas was generally food with certain exceptions.

[gorydetails]

How many of these colonies vastly improved after the controlling group left?

[BarryLiverstone]

Nope it’s not all bad

[RedInnocent69]

Yeah, for the colonized.