Imagining War and Peace in Eighteenth-Century Britain, 1690–1820

In eighteenth-century Britain, Andrew Lincoln's book explores how the civilizing process and the rise of humanitarianism made war acceptable to a modern commercial society. He shows how criticism of war could be used to promote it and how ideas and methods were developed to provide moral insulation from overseas violence. The first campaigning peace society drew inspiration from imperial conquest.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 23 November 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In his comprehensive exploration of political, moral, religious, artistic, and literary developments in eighteenth-century Britain, Andrew Lincoln delves into the intricate relationship between the civilizing process, the rise of humanitarianism, and the acceptance of war in a modern commercial society. Through a detailed examination of a diverse range of illuminating examples, Lincoln demonstrates how criticism of the devastating consequences of war could be employed to justify and promote nation-building. His study sheds light on the development of ideas and methods aimed at providing moral insulation for the British public from the violence they witnessed overseas and the hardships they faced at home. Furthermore, it reveals how the first campaigning peace society, while advocating for pacificism, drew inspiration from the opportunities presented by imperial conquest. This volume serves as a crucial and timely invitation to reevaluate our understanding of the cultural and moral foundations of imperial Britain, challenging us to explore new perspectives and insights into this complex era.

Weight: 596g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009366540