A Metropolitan History of the Dutch Empire: Popular Imperialism in The Netherlands, 1850-1940

A Metropolitan History of the Dutch Empire: Popular Imperialism in The Netherlands,1850-1940 explores how the empire was present and absent in metropolitan life, arguing that indifference to empire was not an anomaly but the logical consequence of an imperial ideology that rendered metropole and colony firmly separated entities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 25 February 2022
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press

A Metropolitan History of the Dutch Empire: Popular Imperialism in The Netherlands,1850-1940 delves into the examination of popular imperial culture in the Netherlands during the turn of the twentieth century. Surprisingly, the empire emerged as a prominent force in various aspects of civil society, playing a crucial role in mobilizing individuals for causes related to the Dutch overseas colonies. At the same time, the empire seemed to be absent from people's minds, except for occasional jingoistic outbursts during the Aceh War and the Boer War. How could the empire simultaneously exist and be absent in metropolitan life?

Drawing upon the insights of scholars from diverse fields such as postcolonial studies and Habsburg imperialism, the author argues that indifference to empire was not an anomaly but rather a logical outcome of an imperial ideology that firmly separated the metropole and the colony. The diverse groups and individuals advocating for imperial or anti-imperial causes, including missionaries, former colonials, Indonesian students, and boy scouts, rarely connected explicitly, yet they shared a common thread of Dutch imperial ideology. This suggests that we should not interpret the metropolitan invisibility of colonial culture as a sign of weakness.

The book explores the complex dynamics between the empire and metropolitan life, shedding light on the ways in which the empire influenced and shaped the cultural, social, and political landscape of the Netherlands. It examines the various manifestations of popular imperial culture, including literature, music, art, and sports, and how they reflected and contributed to the imperial project. The author also examines the ways in which individuals and groups resisted and challenged imperialism, highlighting the diverse strategies and tactics employed by different actors.

A Metropolitan History of the Dutch Empire provides a valuable contribution to the study of imperialism and colonialism, offering a fresh perspective on the role of the empire in shaping metropolitan life. It challenges traditional narratives of imperialism and highlights the complexities and contradictions of popular imperial culture. The book will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone interested in the history of the Netherlands, imperialism, and colonialism.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 161 x 241 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789463729918