The Truth About Colonialism with Nigel Biggar

💥Join us on our Journey to 1 Million Subscribers💥 Nigel Biggar CBE was Emeritus Regius Professor of Moral Theology at the University of Oxford and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Pusey House, Oxford. He holds a BA in Modern History from Oxford and a PhD in Christian Theology & Ethics from the University of Chicago. His most recent book 'Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning' was initially accepted by Bloomsbury, who later changed their mind claiming "public feeling on the subject does not currently support the publication of the book". The book was ultimately published by William Collins and has become a Sunday Times Bestseller.
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00:00 Intro
01:40 The Case Nigel Makes in His New Book
04:53 What Are Empires & Why Do They Exist?
09:06 The Way History is Discussed Today
12:55 Slavery in the British Empire
18:52 The Transportation of Slaves
22:38 Should we Sympathise with Critics of the British Empire?
26:51 Society’s Warped View of History
33:59 Nigel’s Thoughts on Western Intervention
37:52 How Many of Nigel’s Ideas Come From Academia?
42:56 Sponsor Message: Locals
45:14 Why Legitimate Analysis of the British Empire Gets Cancelled
53:18 When Publishers Decide Certain Books are ‘Unacceptable’
1:02:41 What’s the One Thing We’re Not Talking About?

[triggerpod]

WATCH exclusive bonus content where *Nigel* answers audience questions.
CHAPTERS 👇
00:00 Intro
01:40 The Case Nigel Makes in His New Book
04:53 What Are Empires & Why Do They Exist?
09:06 The Way History is Discussed Today
12:55 Slavery in the British Empire
18:52 The Transportation of Slaves
22:38 Should we Sympathise with Critics of the British Empire?
26:51 Society’s Warped View of History
33:59 Nigel’s Thoughts on Western Intervention
37:52 How Many of Nigel’s Ideas Come From Academia?
42:56 Sponsor Message: Locals
45:14 Why Legitimate Analysis of the British Empire Gets Cancelled
53:18 When Publishers Decide Certain Books are ‘Unacceptable’
1:02:41 What’s the One Thing We’re Not Talking About?

[orboakin]

As a Nigerian, my opinion on colonialism will be more nuanced than that of most westerners. On one hand, it was brutal in some ways but on the other it did play a huge role in bringing much of Africa into the modern age via introduction of modern tech, medicine, western education, and nation building. My country literally wouldn't exist without the British. For all the issues we face, most of us wouldn't ever dream of not having a country of our own.

Also, one major good it did was abolish slavery. I cannot be more thankful for the British using their naval power and economic might to suppress the slave trade in Africa. Oh, I know they partook in it for a time, themselves, but it existed here long before whites ever came to Africa. Even my own ancestors of the Edo kingdom were slavers. What makes the British different is that unlike other regional African and Arab powers, they had the cultural & religious framework, wisdom, humanity and courage to actually stop the evil of slavery even at huge cost to their economy.

[nuqwestr]

In the US, I ask young adults "When did the Atlantic Slave Trade End" and I almost always get a date in the 1860s, when it was actually made illegal by both England and the US in around 1808. I also ask if women and blacks were allowed to vote in the US in 1789. Young adults always say no, but voting rights were by state in the US and some states allowed widowed women of property and free blacks who paid taxes to vote. History is being taught with an agenda, kids are being lied to by omission.

[liamwinter]

We are vastly outnumbered by the willfully ignorant.

[hankhooper]

William Wilberforce, member of parliament, who was the leading force for ending slavery in the British empire. Great man.

[danielleal]

Among the examples of ignorance or deliberate malfeasance in the debate over the slave trade and colonialism is that the left in general is 100% onboard with the notion that the Arab slave trade, where the castration of every African male to be sent to the Middle East had a 90% mortality rate among those captured, shouldn’t be either discussed or regarded as a big deal. In a similar manner, there’s not a peep about the fact that the first of those nearly universally demonized Crusades was preceded by more than 400 years of islamic imperialistic jihad.

Such topics must be kept off-limits to discussion, lest they could lead to the inevitable and well-deserved crumbling of the shaky foundations of the houses of lies upon which many leftist narratives have been built upon.

[afernandesrp]

This is happening because of Freirean praxis which made world wide. In Brazil we are taught that Brazil (And Latin America) is poor because of European colonialism. I was sent to the principal’s office and suspended in 7th grade (1997) because I asked about the slave trade ending in America and England but continuing in Brazil. I got 4 days suspension for “Disturbing students who wanted to learn.”

[colinwoodbridge]

We think slavery was dreadful because we were the first or near first to recognise the fact and were by far the most diligent in stamping it out.

[errolmills]

Thank goodness for scholars like him for bringing a calm common sense to history.

[johnclapperton]

"In an abandoned camp they found some meat roasting in the fire. It turned out to be the leg of a Comanche. The Tonkawas, known for their cannibalism, had been preparing a feast. This sent the Comanche off into a fury of vengeance, and they persued the Tonkawas: We, (the Comanche), scalped them, amputated their arms, cut off their legs, cut out their tongues, and threw their mangled bodies and limbs upon their own campfire, put on more brushwood, and piled on the living, dying, and dead Tonkaways on the fire. Some of them were able to flinch and work as worms, and some were able to speak and plead for mercy. We piled them up, put on more wood, and danced around in great glee as we saw the grease and blood run from their bodies, and we were delighted to see them swell up and hear the hide pop as it would burst in the fire." (Herman Lehmann, Nine Years Among the (Comanche) Indians, 1870-1879, p. 155)

[Kyniel]

If our confidence in Western values is shaken then we hesitate to defend them. Do we still meaningfully hold our governments to account? Are they still truly limited by the law?
We should stop obsessing over the failures of the past and start recognising that the modern West has been betraying its own values. Instead of taking a critical look at our history, we should take a critical look at our present. We should not stand in judgement of our forefathers - we should consider how they would judge us.

[angelaharvey]

I too am shocked that a publisher would think that Nigel Biggar's book would be unfavourable in respect of public feelings (which members of the public?) - absolutely would not agree, I bought the book a few weeks ago and it is an excellent book. Pleased to see his book is selling well!

[quercus]

I bought Nigel Biggar’s new book on Audible. I’ll buy the paperback version as well. As a Brit with a Gujarati wife, who’s father fled Uganda, Mother left Kenya and ended up in England. i’ve found myself quite interested in India, it’s history and the impact of colonialism. I’ve also spent several Months traveling all over India and meeting people along the way. My in-laws have spoken about What it was like growing up in Africa. Ten years ago we visited Nakuru where her mother grew up. She couldn’t believe how much it had changed from when the British were there. I have no doubt about the extent to which the historical revisionism of the west has been maligned.

[gneeliesandthings]

What a terrific interview...my first introduction to Nigel Biggar and I appreciate his fair, even-handed, honest, and moderate take on Colonialism. Thank you for the interview.

[peanutnutter]

Modern people judge the British Empire by the values that the British Empire brought about.

[LA-kcev]

It is rather startling to me that in the West 'history' is reduced to 'colonialism' and 'whiteness', and these last to slavery. The events of history, the characteristics of the world's civilizations; their art, the history of ideas, religions, are filled with riches, errors, beauty, brilliance, horrors, courage, about which most today know nothing. This will be to our peril, especially in the West.

[josephwald]

Just ordered my copy in the US. As mentioned in this interview, many of the 'grown-ups' today were activists in the 60's, many took over positions in academia, the media, politics, and the corporate world, and they've raised children for whom these perspectives are a new religion.

[martinheath]

It's not just aggressive entitled ignorant people pushing this, it's baked into our current state education system from top to bottom

[brainfreeze]

This is so outside of what my knowledge of history has told me that I''m going to have to do a lot more digging into the matters raised. He's a very persuasive professor.

[__coach__mike]

Triggernometry is up there at the very top of my YouTube follow list. Always very informative and fair.