J. Shield Nicholson's Project of Empire: The Edinburgh Economist Evolved from a Free Trader into a Premier Apologist for Imperialism

Abstract . In the world economy at the turn of the century, great empires competed for position—those of Great Britain, the newly imperialistic United States, Germany, France and others. Britain, champion of free trade, finding its world status weakened by rising colonial nationalism, became racked with debate over imperial union or federation, empire free trade, preferential tariffs or protectionism, a common defense or independent strategy. A key figure in the controversies was J. Shield Nicholson, who evolved from a free trader into an imperialist apologist. Nicholson foresaw some of the problems the neglect of which explain in part the eventual dissolution of the empire: the colonies as sources of raw materials and foodstuffs or of manufactures, the allocation of the costs of defense and the protection of the mother country's economy. The debates, and especially the evolution of Nicholson's positions, illustrate how economic ideologies developed during the period.