Unhomely Empire: Whiteness and Belonging, c.1760-1830

This book explores how Scottish Enlightenment ideas of belonging influenced the construction and circulation of white supremacist thought during British imperial rule. It argues that the movement of ideas across a British imperial literary network shaped perceptions of racial difference and whiteness.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 12 November 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This captivating book delves into the profound impact of Scottish Enlightenment ideas on the formation and propagation of white supremacist thought, which aimed to justify British imperial rule. During the 18th century, European imperial expansion witnessed a significant surge in population mobility driven by various factors such as the establishment of new trade routes, warfare, disease outbreaks, enslavement, and displacement. In this insightful work, Onni Gust contends that this vast movement intersected with philosophical discussions about what it meant to belong to a nation, civilization, and even humanity itself.

Unhomely Empire presents a comprehensive exploration of the consolidation of a Scottish Enlightenment discourse of "home and exile" through three interconnected case studies and debates. These case studies encompass the topics of slavery and abolition in the Caribbean, Scottish Highland emigration to North America, and the upbringing of white girls in colonial India. The narratives unfold through a rich tapestry of poetry, political pamphlets, travel writing, philosophy, letters, and diaries, providing a unique window into the movement of ideas within a British imperial literary network.

Through meticulous analysis of this cultural material, Gust makes a compelling argument that whiteness played a central role in the understanding of belonging within 19th-century liberal imperialism. He further highlights the significance of emotional attachment and the perceived ability or inability to belong as key concepts in the construction of racial difference. This book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the complex interplay between ideas, power, and identity in the context of British imperialism, shedding light on the enduring legacies of this historical period.

Weight: 534g
Dimension: 164 x 240 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350128514