SUMMARY:

Krishan Kumar explores the renewed scholarly and public interest in empires, particularly the British Empire, and the often contentious debates surrounding its legacy. These debates are characterized by extreme politicization and suspicion of any attempts at a more balanced appraisal. Kumar argues that it is an aberration to identify criticism of empires with postimperial political moment informed by the fall of the Soviet Union, American interventions after 9/11, and the modern movements addressing historical injustices like slavery. The tradition of extensive self-criticism has historically existed within imperial powers and was an integral part of their functioning. Kumar cites examples from the British Empire and shows how this internal critique has been utilized by anticolonial thinkers. Finally, he considers the challenges to judging empires morally and the ongoing debate about the lasting impact of British rule, especially in India, acknowledging both positive and negative legacies while emphasizing the inherently contested nature of such assessments.