Macrodose The Break Down: Economic Legacies of Empire w/ Kojo Koram
Jan 23, 2025
Legal scholar Kojo Koram, author of "Uncommon Wealth: Britain and the Aftermath of Empire," dives deep into the enduring economic impacts of colonialism. He argues that discussions about empire shouldn't be relegated to the past, highlighting its role in shaping global inequality and climate crises. Koram reveals how historical ties between corporations and empire continue to perpetuate exploitation, emphasizing the need to confront the legacies of debt that affect poorer nations today. An insightful examination of how past injustices echo into modern economies!
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Trivializing Empire
- Kojo Koram highlights the trivialization of empire's legacy, citing debates about statues and TV shows like Fawlty Towers.
- He emphasizes that empire's purpose was material extraction, not cultural imposition, using the example of nobody sailing across the Atlantic just to give someone a book.
Corporate Empire
- The British Empire's success stemmed partly from its use of private corporations like the East India Company and the Royal Africa Company.
- These corporations acted as efficient wealth extraction tools, accumulating resources and transferring them globally.
Company-State
- The East India Company's private army was larger than any contemporary state's, highlighting its immense power.
- Edmund Burke, a conservative figure, even described the company as "a state masquerading as merchants."
