Colonialism was superior to post-colonial regimes

Bruce Gilley argues that, while colonialism had a bad reputation, it was both more beneficial and more legitimate than most contemporary scholars claim. His argument is couched in an analysis of post-colonial states, positing that, compared to most regimes that followed it, Western imperialism developed local economies to a greater extent and received significant buy-in from indigenous people. To illustrate the point that colonies were beneficial, Gilley cites Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony. He notes that after the end of Portuguese rule in 1974, following a bloody war which displaced a quarter of the colony’s population, a despotic one-party state emerged that more violently repressed its people. Agricultural production also fell and progression in life expectancy slowed.^[1] Looking at these specific metrics, Gilley argues, shows that Portuguese imperialism was a better form of government. To establish legitimacy Gilley cites the millions of colonised people who engaged in different capacities with the imperial state; those who sent their children to colonial schools, worked in positions within the colonial state, or moved to work in imperial centres. He also notes that given the small number of Europeans actively engaged in colonial work it is notable that Europeans were not thrown out of the country before the rise of twentieth century anti-colonialism.^[1] The colonial state was legitimate, given the participation of subject peoples in it.

[P1] Colonial governments were legitimate and beneficial to native peoples. [P2] Post-colonial governments have been more despotic and less productive than imperial counterparts.