近代英国“自由贸易帝国主义”的形成及影响

The Formation of “Imperialism of Free Trade” in Modern Britain and its Effect

18世纪末,在工业革命的推动下,英国经济和社会发生了巨大变化。英国需要扩大帝国版图,以满足工业发展对原料和市场的需求,输出资本和转移社会矛盾。经济实力的增强和工商业资产阶级的兴起,使英国能以新的"自由贸易"的方式进行扩张。"自由贸易帝国主义"应运而生。当时英国很多经济、社会学家大力推崇这种新的帝国观念,主张抛弃重商主义、推广自由贸易,但认为殖民地是缓和社会矛盾的必然选择。18世纪后期,那些具有远见的政治家率先接受了"自由贸易帝国主义",并将之用于英帝国改革的实践中。19世纪上半期,随着自由贸易改革运动的胜利,"自由贸易帝国主义"理论被英国政治家进一步发展和推广应用,自由贸易与殖民占领一起成为了英帝国扩张和管理的基本原则。

In the end of the 18^(th) century,with the promotion of Industrial Revolution,the economy and society of Britain had changed greatly.British Empire needed to be expanded,in order to hold raw materials and markets to meet the needs of industrial development,to export capital,and to transfer social conflicts.The improving of its economic strength and the rise of its Bourgeoisie,made it possible for Britain to expand in the form of free trad,and'Imperialism of Free Trade'was formed.At that time,many economist and sociologist praised the new conception of Empire highly,they advocated the abandonment of mercantilism and the promotion of free trade,but argued that the colony was essential to ease social conflicts.In the end of the 18 th century,those politicians who were foresighted accepted the concept of'Imperialism of Free Trade',and put it into practice to reform the British Empire.In first half of the 19^(th) Century,with the victory of the free trade movement,the theory of'Imperialism of Free Trade'had been developed and applied widely.Free Trade and colonial occupation both had become the basic principle for the British Empire to be expanded and to be administrated.