«La circulation des idées» : Translating European Abolitionism

Abstract

Translation was central to the propagation and universalization of British abolitionist ideas at the time of the Vienna Congress when the European Declaration on the slave trade was forged. Yet transnational dialogue could not overcome differences between nations. The use of ‘humanity’ and ‘civilisation’ highlighted European humanitarian beliefs, but the Declaration itself remained vague. And abolitionist translations were seen as imposing British wishes on Europe. Yet these ideas spread through an emphasis on international cooperation and multilingual publications.