Australia in the British Empire

As one can easily see in Australia, it is still apparent nowadays that it was once part of the British Empire. May it be the flag containing the Union Jack, the head of state, still being Queen Elisabeth II or on a social basis the popularity of cricket throughout the country.

However, besides positive connotations, the British Empire is always connected to exploitation and cruelty, negatively influencing families and colonies for their own interests and economic growth.

Interestingly, when looking for usable data on the internet, I found a blog entry called “Turning our backs on the Empire that made us”, in which the author argues that the British Empire enabled Australia to prosper and flourish in order to become what it is today.

He states:

“When we think about it at all, Australians remember the British Empire as an exclusively English enterprise, run by effete aristocrats sneering down their noses at colonials they mostly saw as convicts and cannon fodder.

But the truth is that for decades Australia prospered not in spite of the connection to Britain, but because of it. White subjects of self-governing settler colonies, Australians were economically and strategically among the greatest beneficiaries of Britain’s empire.” (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-18/dal-santo-turning-our-backs-on-the-empire-that-made-us/5898958)

Furthermore, he points out that:

“The British Empire created the first truly global network of mass migration and free commercial exchange. For the millions who migrated to farm the rich plains of North America, Australasia and southern Africa, the Empire generated security and prosperity on an unprecedented scale. […] Without the British Empire, at Federation in 1901 Australian living standards would not have been, as they were, among the highest in the world. Not only was Britain the overwhelming source of the capital needed to develop Australia’s economy, but Britain’s industrialisation stimulated demand for Australian agricultural products.” (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-18/dal-santo-turning-our-backs-on-the-empire-that-made-us/5898958)

As can be seen, Australia was surely not only exploited by the British but gained several possibilities to prosper from the Empire, creating high living standards and an emerging industrialisation.

Surely, I do not want to cover-up the fact that the British Empire prospered with the help of terror and grief for many people but still I think it is interesting to take a look at both sides, such as can be seen in this post. Especially for Australia, the British Empire brought several advantages which are still apparent today.