‘Empire Studies’ Then and Now: David Armitage’s The Ideological Origins of the British Empire

David Armitage's Ideological Origins of the British Empire is a classic in its field. It achieved this status by combining two historiographies – Intellectual History and British History – with a view to analysing an under-examined theme. That theme was the history of the idea of the British Empire. Armitage's goal was meticulous reconstruction. However, since the appearance of the book, this quintessentially historical goal has been distorted by the appearance of “critical” imperial studies – sometimes associated with “postcolonial” studies – which now occupy a central position in critical theory generally. In place of understanding an object of study, we are encouraged to expose its inherent malevolence. However, Armitage's book remains a vital reminder that understanding the facts is a necessary precondition for a programme of moral condemnation.