‘Rule Britannia’ and the New American Empire: A Marxist Analysis of the Teaching of Imperialism, Actual and Potential, in the British School Curriculum

Abstract

The author begins by arguing that in order to understand imperialism it is necessary to have a conceptual awareness of the concepts of racism and racialisation. He then considers how the British Empire impacted on schools during the imperial era. He goes on to examine the nature of the New Imperialism. Calls are currently being made by notable ‘establishment figures’ for the renewed teaching in schools of the history of Britain's imperial past. He concludes that Marxists should endorse these calls and should argue for the teaching of imperialism to be extended to include an analysis of the New Imperialism.