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In a rapidly changing world marked by trade wars, shifting alliances, and resurgent nationalism, what can history teach us about the future of globalisation? Is America’s retreat from global leadership inevitable, and what might Britain’s past decline reveal about the potential paths ahead?
In the first episode of Season 2 of the Our Long Walk podcast, Jonathan Schoots – now at Wits University – and I interview Tony Hopkins, emeritus Smuts Professor of Commonwealth History at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of the British Academy. Tony is an acclaimed economic historian specialising in African economic history, European colonisation, globalisation, and the rise and fall of empires. His groundbreaking work, including the influential concept of ‘gentlemanly capitalism’, has reshaped our understanding of imperial histories and economic transformations.
Our conversation explores big themes: from the historical waves of globalisation and deglobalisation to the lessons Britain’s declining empire might offer to the contemporary United States. Tony argues passionately for the importance of historical context, cautioning against drawing simplistic analogies. He also emphasises the value of studying African entrepreneurship and indigenous histories, pointing out how these fields, though often overlooked today, offer profound insights into economic and social resilience.
We also delve into Tony’s personal journey as a historian. From his early pioneering work in African economic history in the 1960s to his provocative recent work on American empire, Tony reflects on the evolution of historical scholarship itself. Throughout, he encourages young scholars to build ‘architectures’ rather than merely placing ‘bricks in the wall’. He urges scholars to pursue original ideas, challenge existing frameworks, and shape new intellectual landscapes.
This episode also features a brand-new song inspired by Tony’s scholarship, creatively capturing his insights and historical themes. I composed the song using Suno, an AI music-generation tool. Drawing on this interview with Tony, I asked ChatGPT for a limerick and had Suno create a ‘British folk song’ with it. Have a listen.
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‘Is imperial history overdue a comeback?’ was first published on Our Long Walk. The images were created with Midjourney v7.
