This course examines Chartism and British imperialism in India as two connected histories that reveal the contradictions of 19th-century Britain. It explores how Britain demanded democratic rights for some at home while denying them to others abroad, and how it claimed to bring progress and civilization to India while relying on force and exploitation. Together, these topics show that British history is not simply a story of progress, but a complex and painful journey of conflict, compromise, and change. The course also encourages students to think critically about who benefits from reform, who suffers from empire, and how ideals of liberty and justice can coexist with power and domination.
- Enseignant: Mariya Slimani