Orientalism at work?: Dundee’s response to competition from Calcutta, circa 1870-1914

Tomlinson, J. (2015) Orientalism at work?: Dundee’s response to competition from Calcutta, circa 1870-1914. Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, 43(5), pp. 807-830. (doi: 10.1080/03086534.2014.982417)

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Abstract

From the late nineteenth century the Dundee jute industry faced intensifying competition from Calcutta. This article examines the responses in Dundee to this competition, focusing upon the ways Dundonians understood Calcutta and India, and how these understandings shaped the debate on possible lines of action. It argues that the diversity of approaches to the threat, inter-linked with the complexities of local politics, led to a concentration of effort on seeking to establish and then strengthen Indian factory legislation. The severity of competition from another empire country posed acute dilemmas for pro-imperial politics in the city: how could such a politics be sustained if the local economy was being so harmed by Calcutta's invasion of Dundee's markets, yet a protective response was ruled out by the realities of imperial policy?

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Tomlinson, Professor Jim
Authors: Tomlinson, J.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Economic and Social History
Journal Name:Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History
Publisher:Routledge
ISSN:0308-6534
ISSN (Online):1743-9329
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2014 Taylor and Francis
First Published:First published in Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 43(5):807-830
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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