Classical political economists and Marx on colonialism and “backward’ nations

Abstract

The article provides a comparative and analytical discussion of the conceptions about colonialism and “backward” countries elaborated by classical political economists, and Marx and Engels. It shows that, contrary to the consistently optimistic view of classical political economy, Marx and Engels changed their position from a positive assessment of colonialism toward a more pessimistic view after 1860. Their reason for that is sought in the influence of the Hegelian notion of “peoples without history” and in the presence of a form of “Eurocentrism” in their thought. The article concludes that, in spite of important differences, Marx and Engles share some basic premises with the 19th century's mentality present in Hegel and classical political economy.