History and Imperialism: A Century of Theory, from Marx to Postcolonialism
Author(s)
Wolfe, Patrick
Abstract
This wide-ranging review essay on imperialism by Patrick Wolfe uses a chronological analysis to assess all of the major theories on imperialism from classical Marxist doctrines and dependency theory to subaltern studies and postcolonalism. At the heart of Wolfe’s analysis are two thematic oppositions that he argues unite the various theories: domestic versus peripheral and discursive versus practical. He uses these oppositions to chart a consistent pathway through this otherwise very diverse set of perspectives. The result is an insightful account of the historical conditions that underlie the theoretical shifts in the literature on imperialism. At the same time, Wolfe illuminates the interplay between these shifting theories.
