white man's burden

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Definition

Noun: - A historical and ideological concept: The phrase "white man's burden" refers to the belief, prevalent in the 19th and early 20th centuries, that white people had a moral duty and responsibility to govern and civilize non-white peoples, often used to justify colonialism and imperialism.

Usage
  • The term is used historically and critically to describe a paternalistic and racist ideology.
  • It is almost exclusively used in discussions of history, politics, and post-colonial studies to analyze past justifications for empire.
Examples
  • Noun:
    • Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden" was used to promote the idea of imperial duty.
    • Historians critique the concept of the white man's burden as a facade for economic exploitation.
Advanced Usage
  • The term is now understood as a pejorative concept representing the arrogance and racism inherent in colonial ideology. It is not used to endorse the idea but to analyze or condemn it.
  • It often appears in scholarly analysis:
Variants and Related Words
  • Colonialism (n): The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
  • Imperialism (n): A policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.
  • Paternalism (n): The policy or practice on the part of people in authority of restricting the freedom and responsibilities of those subordinate to them in the subordinates' supposed best interest.
Synonyms
  • Civilizing mission: A closely related phrase expressing a similar ideological justification for colonialism.
  • Imperial burden: A less common, synonymous phrase.
Notes on Meaning
  • The phrase encapsulates a specific historical ideology and is not used in contemporary contexts to describe any actual responsibility. Its use today is analytical, critical, or historical.
  • It represents a belief system, not a tangible object or action.
Noun
  1. the supposed responsibility of the white race to provide care for their non-white subjects