The White Man's Burden

Imperialism is the policy whereby a nation expands its power by directly acquiring and ruling territory not its own or by exerting political and economic control over areas beyond its borders. Imperialism has a long history, from the ancient world to the empires of France, Spain, and Great Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries. The British Empire continued into the 20th century, and many other countries in that century, including Russia, Italy, Germany, Japan, and the United States, pursued imperialistic policies. When people refer to imperialism today, however, it is almost always in a way that conveys disapproval. It is accepted that imperialism caused untold death and destruction and denied many nations the right to independence and self-determination—a legacy felt to this day.

“The White Man’s Burden” advocates imperialism, both by the United States and Great Britain. The speaker regards imperialism as the white race’s moral duty to civilize nonwhite people. The poem is typical of Kipling who was renowned for his patriotism and strong belief in the mission of the British to civilize the world. In addition to “The White Man’s Burden,” his poems “A Song of the White Men” (1899) and “The English Flag” (1891) provide testimony to his beliefs. For Kipling, the pursuit of empire was a benevolent rather than an oppressive mission. He believed that the British Empire created order and stability and was a force for peace in the world. He saw it in terms of a humanitarian mission. The empire brought such benefits as famine relief, medical knowledge, and the building of a physical and legal infrastructure that would enable the empire’s subjects to become civilized, as defined by the British. The existence of empire would also ensure the protection of Great Britain.