Informal Empire

Informal empire is less a settled concept than vexing category. Scholars disagree on the complicity of individuals, extent government oversight, and even whether informal in fact imperial. I argue that best approached through lens paradox. It system with no centralized authority yet which gave Britain powerful role formation Latin America. relied continuing independence American nations compromised their sovereignty. often fostered economic progress new strangled development. grew out labor thousands individual migrants travelers, many these people had sense they were involved something called empire. What means still very much up for debate. However, what it does scholars nineteenth century quite clear: calls us to study imperialism ways, asking expand our gaze beyond usual sites, more openly conceptualize power relations, and—using all particular powers literary we possess—to be attuned strangeness paradox imperialism.