Does Britain still have a colonial mind-set?

Although Britain no longer rules over the countries it previously conquered, their influence still remains today.

Britain, at the peak of its global reach, ruled over 1/3^rd of the world and so it comes as no surprise that an element of colonial nostalgia secretly exists amongst Brits today. Following a rapturous Olympics outcome, various British celebrities and sports personalities made subtle hints to the days of the Empire on Twitter.

Now that's what I call winning!!! Well done Team GB & all our Commonwealth friends, now for the Trade Agreements.... pic.twitter.com/Qg9qkYxWHp

— Heather Wheeler (@HeatherWheeler) August 22, 2016

It could also be said that one of the reasons behind Brexit was the desire to return Britain to its former legacy of being a world superpower, instead of a country pandering to the whims of the EU Parliament and Commission. It stemmed from a desire to remind Britain of its former glory, even though those glory days were tainted by bloody uprisings, slavery, colonial looting and inflicting secret coups in desired territories.

Although Britain no longer rules over the countries it previously conquered, their presence and influence are far-reaching and still remain today. Canada, a bijural nation, gleans a lot of its political and judicial set up from Britain. India and Pakistan owe a tremendous amount of infrastructural and political set up from British colonial rule. Australia and New Zealand also emulate many significant institutions that already exist within Britain. Let’s also not forget to mention that roads, railways and every apparatus needed to mobilise a country were provided to South-East Asia by the British. However, these were usually more beneficial to the British than to the locals.

Colonisation and any connotations associated with it will always touch a raw nerve, but when it rears its ugly head through Brexit then alarm bells should start ringing. Jingoism and patriotic fervour are not, in themselves, problematic but celebrating a time where millions of those colonised were killed or sold into slavery is definitely ill-advised.

The British view the days of the Empire through rose-tinted sunglasses. They feel that they brought some semblance of civility and culture to the nations of ‘savages’ that they colonised. But those who lived under British rule tell a very different tale. Today, any mention of the British Empire is met with uncertainty, derision or ecstasy depending on the person’s experience and understanding of it.

This year Oxford University has faced demands to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes, a prolific imperialist and a big supporter of slavery, from the University’s premises. The #RhodesMustFall campaign has gained momentum after popular Ivy League universities in America were asked to rename those institutions which bear the name of slavery-supporting individuals.

The #MarchOnRhodes is now outside Oriel. We call for removal of statue and reparatory scholarships. #RhodesMustFall pic.twitter.com/J9ygbMVjDB

— Rhodes Must Fall Oxford (@RMF_Oxford) March 9, 2016

For now, Oxford University has decided to keep the statue of Cecil Rhodes but the implications of such a protest cannot be ignored. Whilst Britain may still revel in its colonial past, not everyone shares the same celebratory sentiment that pervades a country high on sporting successes.