“Civilizing Mission” in the era of imperial sunset: British approaches to the justification of colonial policy in the 1940s

The objective of this article is to identify the changes wrought by the Second World War in the body of ideas and practices utilized by the British political elite to rationalise the continued existence of the empire. The diminution of British influence, the universalist ideology of the United States, and the development of the national liberation movement in the colonies were all factors that contributed to the promotion of “new standards of progress”. London was forced to adjust its rhetoric and colonial policy accordingly. Concurrently, the novel interpretation of the “civilizing mission” was predicated on the long-standing tradition of the evolving colonial ideology in Great Britain, which was anchored in the intellectual and philosophical tenets of the Enlightenment and liberalism of the late 18th and 19th centuries. The concept “trusteeship”, which emerged in the late 18th century, served to describe and legitimise British rule over the colonies until the dissolution of the empire. The most significant innovation to emerge from the Second World War was the establishment of a framework for promoting colonial development and welfare that was firmly embedded within the concept of trusteeship. In addition to the humanitarian aspect, the 1940 and 1945 Colonial Development and Welfare Acts sought to ensure the most efficient utilization of the resources of the British possessions, thereby maintaining British influence in the international arena. In the political realm, the potential for the provision of self-governance or independence to colonial territories necessitated the urgent undertaking of educating local leaders who would be able to guarantee the preservation of British interests in the wake of a transition of authority. This endeavor, therefore, emerged as the paramount responsibility of the trustee.