PhD Thesis: Episode 2.1 (Patreon)

[PATRONS]

In this episode, we begin examining the second chapter of the thesis - and it is a fascinating one! This chapter analyses insults in British foreign policy from 1838-1850, and our story begins with a conflict rooted in this ideology - the First Opium War [1839-1842].

Insults could be exchanged between powers through a variety of mediums. The consequences of an insult were obvious on the surface - shame, if the insult was not repelled,
political attacks from the opposition if the insult was judged particularly heinous, and popular discontent if things really got out of hand. However, receiving an insult granted Britain the chance to obtain satisfaction, an invaluable commodity, which could rebound to the security of the country, and to the popularity of the government. Satisfaction could be acquired through coercive diplomacy, or, in the case of the First Opium War of 1839, a declaration of war. 

Satisfaction was the goal in making war on the Qing Empire, so it was claimed. But if China was defeated, clearly Britain would acquire extensive economic boons as well - including the licence to export opium to the Chinese people, which could improve the negative balance of payments caused by Britain's incessant thirst for tea. There would also be opportunities to seize lucrative portions of land, such as Hong Kong, if everything went well. 

But was the thrust towards war among Lord Melbourne's administration truly so cynical? In fact, it was more complex. It was hard to deny that Britain had been insulted in previous years, as the Chinese demanded supplication in return for trade - a dishonourable state of affairs for sure. The Chinese reaction to the opium smuggling was to ban all British ships, and even detain British merchants. But did this justify a war? Interestingly, the government avoided this challenge by not declaring war, and being extremely cagey about Britain's relationship with China. This provoked the opposition, but another moral opposition also sprang up - opposed to the sale of opium on Christian grounds, and determined to fight with familiar rhetoric against the march towards war. As usual, the rhetoric of national honour was a tool for many contemporaries, so let's see how their arguments played out, as we jump into the First Opium War!