Briefly explain why J.A Hobson gave an economic interpretation to imperial tactics to Africa
Answers
John A. Hobson made a significant contribution in his economic, social and political analysis of British imperialism. His views on the two leading political imperial issues of the 1880s and early 1900s--the schemes for imperial federation and imperial preference--are examined. Hobson discussed such topics with a substantial degree of balance and objectivity, though he had strong personal feelings on the matters. Since historians of thought have neglected the discussion of imperial topics by Hobson's contemporary economists, Hobson's ideas are considered in relation to those of other economists writing in the period, 1870-1914, including W. J. Ashley, W. Cunningham, H. Fawcett, R. Giffen, W. A. S. Hewins, A. Marshall and J. S. Nicholson. Hobson emerges as the most comprehensive and sophisticated of the group, even though his ideas appear somewhat muddled.