The Sense of Superiority that Drives Brexit

Sir Malcolm Sargent conducts Land of Hope and Glory at a Promenade Concert an annual tradition in Britain. Image from http://www.classical-music.com/article/why-land-hope-and-glory-bbc-proms

For more than two hundred years, beginning in the late 16th century, British explorers and traders traveled the world, discovering new lands bordering the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They developed trade links with the indigenous populations of these lands and profited enormously from that trade. They were not alone. Dutch, French, Spanish and Portugese merchants and adventurers were doing the same. Conflicts often ensued, engendering frequent wars. Britain usually came out on top and, by the beginning of the nineteenth century, large parts of Africa as well as the Indian sub-continent, all of Australia, New Zealand, Many Pacific Islands, Southern China and most of North America were governed by the British monarchy or its authorised agents.

The oldest of these colonies, those on the Eastern seaboard of North America, formed themselves into the United States of America, fought for and won independence. But there were many other lands that offered opportunities for those seeking adventure.

At the same time it could be said that Britain was leading the way in scientific advancement. Some of those early explorers, such as James Cook, pioneered techniques of surveying and map making. Others brought back numerous geological and botanical specimens to add to the world’s fund of knowledge. Others developed, and conducted experiments to prove…