Karl Ittmann

Karl Ittmann, a historian specializing in the British Empire, dives into his book detailing the rise of the British imperial oil industry, which dominated 20% of global reserves by 1939. He discusses how British companies intertwined their interests with colonial administration, akin to quasi-states, leveraging military and political power. Ittmann highlights labor strife fueled by exploitative practices and the profound impacts of imperialism on global oil. He further examines the shift from British control to local ownership post-decolonization and the cultural legacies that endure today.

Karl Ittmann, a historian of the British Empire and retired professor, dives into the intricate world of the British imperial oil industry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He reveals how British firms leveraged imperial resources to command a significant share of global oil, manipulating labor dynamics and racial hierarchies. Ittmann also discusses the entwined fates of oil and empire, highlighting the tensions created by worker exploitation, colonial nationalist movements, and the transformation of British geopolitical influence post-WWII.