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