The East India Company was originally incorporated as an English Joint Stock company with the overriding objective of initiating British trade objectives in the East Indies. The company's evolution from trading corporation into a central vehicle for expanding the British Empire in India in particular placed the company in a unique position of being a corporate entity ruling a country , creating an inherent conflict with the powers of the executive, whilst simultaneously furthering British political objectives in the East.
It has been argued that the role of the East India Company in the expansion of the British Empire directly correlates to the activities of key individuals such as Robert Clive and Lord Hastings and the focus of this analysis is to critically evaluate the roles of Clive, the East India Company and Lord Hastings in the expansion of the Empire in India. To this end, it is submitted that it is vital to consider the historical backdrop and evolution of the Company from trading entity to leading military strategist for the British objectives in expanding political and economic control in India.
[...] Whilst the Crown and Government was happy to use the company's existing presence in India to further goals and exploit the talents of Clive's military foresight, the correlation of the Company's economic health on the nation meant that the East India Company and Clive's role was inherently limited to operating within a government controlled framework in empire expansion. Nevertheless the significance of Clive's decision to drive the company's military strategy in the region cannot be underestimated in terms of the empire expansion in the region, which is further evidenced by the British position in China. [...]
[...] Pownall, Thomas, The right, interest and duty of government, as concerned in the affairs of the East Indies, (revised edition, 1781), pp.3, 26-7, quoted in Bowen (2006) op. cit at p.10 (Chapter 1). Bowen (2006) op.cit at p.19 (Chapter 1). Ibid. Ibid at p.ix Ibid at p.5. Ibid. Bayly et al (1998) op.cit at p.8 & 69 (Chapters 1 & 3). Ibid at p.8. Bowen (2006) op.cit at p (Chapter 1). Ibid at pp.10-16 (Chapter 1). Ibid at p.12 (Chapter 1). [...]
[...] Accordingly, whilst the contribution of Lord Hastings in cementing imperialist policies in India by stripping Indian sovereignty and controlling local leaders cannot be underestimated, it is submitted that this would arguably not have been possible without the catalyst provided by Clive, who whilst an opportunist, clearly laid the foundation for British rule in India and enabled Hastings' to benefit from the military campaigns spearhead by Clive in cementing British control of India in empire expansion. BIBLIOGRAPHY Alavi, Seema (1995). The Sepoys and the Company: Tradition and Transition in North India, 1770-1830. [...]
[...] Empire of the Free Trade: The East India Company and the Making of the Colonial Marketplace. University of Pennsylvania Press. Spurr, David (1993). The Rhetoric of Empire: Colonial Discourse, Travel Writing, and Imperial Administration. Durham: Duke University Press. Wild, Anthony (1999). The East India Company: Trade and Conquest from 1600. London Harper Collins. Bowen, H.V. (2006). The Business of Empire: Then East India Company and Imperial Britain, 1756-1833. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 1 In Chambers, Ian (2008). Mediterranean crossings: the politics of interrupted modernity. [...]
[...] Empire of the Free Trade: The East India Company and the Making of the Colonial Marketplace: University of Pennsylvania Press & Wild, Anthony (1999). The East India Company: Trade and Conquest from 1600. London Harper Collins. Bowen (2006) op. cit at p.7 (Chapter 1). Ingram, Edward (2001). The British Empire as a World Power: Ten Studies. Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group at p (Part II: Chapter Bowen (2006) op.cit at p.9 (Chapter 1). David Macpherson, Annals of commerce, manufactures, fisheries, and navigation with brief notices the arts and sciences connected with them vols (1805) in Bowen (2006) op.cit at p (Chapter 1). [...]
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