LiegentIn Defense of German Colonialism: And How Its Critics Empowered Nazis, Communists, and the Enemies of the West
Has history misled us about German colonialism? Gilley challenges conventional narratives that portray Germany's colonial rule as oppressive and exploitative. This short examines how German administration actually brought stability, infrastructure, and economic growth to territories from Africa to the Pacific and China. Case studies of Cameroon, Togo, Namibia, and Qingdao show that native populations often welcomed German governance and benefited from improved healthcare, education, and security. Gilley argues that Germany's colonial achievements were deliberately distorted after World War I, creating a political vacuum that contributed to the rise of extremism. By reevaluating this contested history, this work offers a fresh perspective on how anti-colonial rhetoric became weaponized by totalitarian movements and questions established assumptions about Western colonialism's legacy.
Bruce Gilley is a professor of political science at Portland State University specializing in comparative politics, political theory, and state legitimacy. His research examines governance systems across Asia and Africa, exploring state-society relations and development outcomes. Gilley has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals on colonialism, political legitimacy, and democratic transitions. His controversial scholarship on colonial legacies has sparked significant debate within academic circles regarding methodological approaches to studying historical colonialism and its continuing effects on modern governance.
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