What Did the British Empire Do Right? | Lord Nigel Biggar
Socrates in the City
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In this episode of Socrates in Oxford, host Eric Metaxas is joined by Lord Nigel Biggar—author, scholar, and minister—who examines the complicated history of the British Empire and challenges the increasingly simple narrative that colonialism was an unqualified force for evil.
Drawing on the history, theology, and moral philosophy found in his book "Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning," Biggar explores both the profound injustices and genuine achievements of the empire, arguing that a truthful account must acknowledge both. He considers the Christian roots of the abolitionist movement, the motivations behind Britain’s efforts to end the slave trade, and the enduring evidence of the empire’s both positive and negative legacy.
Throughout this conversation, Biggar shares the remarkable story of how his book nearly never came to be after its original publisher canceled the project amid concerns over potential outrage, raising a larger question about whether our understanding of history is being shaped more by emotional reactions or by a careful examination of the facts.
0:00 Welcome & introducing Lord Nigel Biggar
3:35 Why he wrote Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning
9:15 Why the West became so hypercritical of itself
12:59 Rhodes Must Fall and the real South Africa
14:54 Racism is not uniquely European
20:08 Christianity, abolition & the Royal Navy
25:51 Weighing the good and bad of empire
27:55 Cephalonia, Punjab & the empire's benefits
30:53 The empire against Nazi Germany
33:35 A hunger for the whole story
36:02 What's driving the critics?
42:48 The pleasures of playing the crusader
46:20 How the West lost its cultural confidence
49:21 Signs of hope & the fight for free speech
9 Comments
3:35 Why he wrote Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning
9:15 Why the West became so hypercritical of itself
12:59 Rhodes Must Fall and the real South Africa
14:54 Racism is not uniquely European
20:08 Christianity, abolition & the Royal Navy
25:51 Weighing the good and bad of empire
27:55 Cephalonia, Punjab & the empire's benefits
30:53 The empire against Nazi Germany
33:35 A hunger for the whole story
36:02 What's driving the critics?
42:48 The pleasures of playing the crusader
46:20 How the West lost its cultural confidence
49:21 Signs of hope & the fight for free speech
What Did the British Empire Do Right? | Lord Nigel Biggar
Socrates in the City
1,780 views
Subscribe to Socrates in the City
@socratesinthecity
Interested in attending a Socrates in the City event? Sign up for our newsletter https://socratesinthecity.com/sign-up/
In this episode of Socrates in Oxford, host Eric Metaxas is joined by Lord Nigel Biggar—author, scholar, and minister—who examines the complicated history of the British Empire and challenges the increasingly simple narrative that colonialism was an unqualified force for evil.
Drawing on the history, theology, and moral philosophy found in his book "Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning," Biggar explores both the profound injustices and genuine achievements of the empire, arguing that a truthful account must acknowledge both. He considers the Christian roots of the abolitionist movement, the motivations behind Britain’s efforts to end the slave trade, and the enduring evidence of the empire’s both positive and negative legacy.
Throughout this conversation, Biggar shares the remarkable story of how his book nearly never came to be after its original publisher canceled the project amid concerns over potential outrage, raising a larger question about whether our understanding of history is being shaped more by emotional reactions or by a careful examination of the facts.
0:00 Welcome & introducing Lord Nigel Biggar
3:35 Why he wrote Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning
9:15 Why the West became so hypercritical of itself
12:59 Rhodes Must Fall and the real South Africa
14:54 Racism is not uniquely European
20:08 Christianity, abolition & the Royal Navy
25:51 Weighing the good and bad of empire
27:55 Cephalonia, Punjab & the empire's benefits
30:53 The empire against Nazi Germany
33:35 A hunger for the whole story
36:02 What's driving the critics?
42:48 The pleasures of playing the crusader
46:20 How the West lost its cultural confidence
49:21 Signs of hope & the fight for free speech