A Commonwealth of Knowledge

Empire, Intellectuals and the Chatham House Project, 1919-1939

Bibliographic Data

ID4444641
AuthorsPaul D Williams (0000-0002-9716-1294, University of Birmingham, corresponding author), Paul Williams (0000-0001-6259-0390, University of Birmingham)
Year2003
Volume17
Issue1
Pages35-58
Publication date2003-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Relations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0047-1178 • E-ISSN: 1741-2862
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/00471178030171003
OpenAlexW4241829699, W2008884743
LanguageEN
Citations received3

This article uses a Gramscian framework to explore how a group of committed intellectuals created a network of institutes of international affairs throughout the British Empire during the early decades of the 20th century. After outlining a Gramscian perspective on the political role of intellectuals, it discusses the two main antecedents of the Chatham House project, namely, Lord Alfred Milner's Kindergarten and the Round Table Movement. The third section briefly examines Chatham House's establishment, and the fourth looks at how this project was exported to strategic locations throughout the British Empire. This process of expansion is illustrated with reference to the cases of South Africa, India and the Irish Free State. The final section critically evaluates the core values that underpinned the Chatham House project, namely, the application of the scientific mentality to international affairs, the developmental potential of capitalism, a hierarchical conception of racial difference, and a fervent commitment to the superiority of British civilization

British Empire · Capitalism · Civilization · Commonwealth · Economic history · Empire · International relations · Political science · Politics · Sociology · State (computer science) · Australian History and Society · History · Law · Political and Economic history of UK and US · Political Economy and Marxism

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub