Adam Smith's discussion on colonial issues
April 20, 2020 01:24 Source: "China Social Sciences", April 20, 2020, No. 1910, Issue 1910

Starting from the early 17th century,Britain has established a colonial system in East India and North America。Since then,The colonial problem has always been the focus of Politics in the UK。By the second half of the 18th century,Various problems existing in North American colonies are increasingly prominent,Wide discussion caused by people in the British domestic intellectuals。Adam Smith (hereinafter referred to as "Smith") is one of the most profound observers,His policy that advocates solving the problem of North American colonies is free business、Free Trade、Free competition、Free politics。Smith has achieved the purpose of attacking and disseminating the free trade system in colonial management in the North American colonial problem,provides strong evidence for demonstrating the nature and reasons of national wealth。

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European colonies have a long history,can be traced back to ancient Greece、Roman period。Ancient Greek states occupy very small territory,The population of any state is not easy to maintain when the territory of this state is not easy to maintain,Send some people to find new residences in a distant place。Some scholars believe that "all business transactions start from plunder"。About this,Economist William Room Rocyl made a detailed explanation。Following ancient Greece -Rome,Italy is "the only ethnic group in the Middle Ages"。The huge profit obtained by the Italians,The greed of the Portuguese people。The end of the 14th century to the beginning of the 15th century,The Portuguese began to actively explore the sea and discovered the Hope Corner。to the end of the 15th century,The country that really engaged in large -scale colonial activities is Spain and Portugal。Because at the end of the 15th century,When most of Western Europe,Portugal is too peaceful。Obviously,Stability of the country is of a decisive significance for encouraging them to seek wealth。

17-18 century,belonging to the British colony era。Since the end of the bet365 live casino games 16th century and early 17th century,The road to complete the agricultural revolution in the UK and embark on the industrial revolution。Eastern India Company in 1600。Since then,East India Company puts India's food、Cotton、Industrial raw materials are continuously transported back to the UK,Garment of profits from it。To find new trade routes and trading partners,Britain discovered North America and made it a new European colony。The United Kingdom began to expand its colonial system with its commercial and trade strength,and output the concepts of a series of laws and ownership of its own nation to North America,Capitalism for North America、Industrialism and rationalism laid the foundation。

The real motivation of colonial expansion in European countries has two important consequences with other parts of the world and the Atlantic countries: one is that the system and ownership brought by the mother country affect the development of the colonial area,The second is the model of trade and production factors (that is, labor and capital) flow to help form a model for the development of the Atlantic countries。Spain、The economic organizations of Portugal and French colonies are different from the British colonial economic organization,This difference begins with the ownership of the mother country and the factor endowment of the colonies。The British colonies appear one century later than the colonies of Spain and Portugal,Reflects the change of the ownership structure of the country。

To sum up,Colonial problems are problems that cannot be avoided in the process of human economic history,Almost all economists have performed more or less in their theory。Smith is no exception,He sets off the special chapters and colonies related issues in "National Wealth Theory",Deeply revealed the British colonies at the time,Especially the outstanding problems existing in the North American colonies,and proposed many response measures。

  The reasons for the prosperity of the colonies

Smith's "National Wealth Theory" period (1767-1776),North American riots became one of the major social issues that trouble Britain at that time,With the development of the North American situation,bet365 best casino games People who focus on North American colonial policies are competing to openly show their views and attitudes。Smith has always maintained great interest in colonial problems and colonial theories。Through the investigation of the history of ancient colonies,and contact the colonial system formed by the capitalist expansion at the time,Chapter 7 of "National Wealth Theory" Chapter 7,The motivation of his establishment of a new colony、The reasons for the prosperity of the new colony and the significance of the new colony are exposed.。He emphasizes,Ancient and modern colonial purposes and motivations,All are for "understanding significant benefits" (such as commercial trade、Gold and silver precious metals、Fast、ivory, etc.)。

In the colonies of all European countries at that time,The fastest prosperous speed is the British North American colony。Smith believes that this is because the political system of Britain is exported to the colony,It is more conducive to the improvement of land and farming than the colonial political system in any other European colonies。For example: 1. On British colonies,Although it is not completely prevented of the landlord's exclusive land,But more restrictions than any other colony。Colonial Law Regulations,Each landlord is obliged to be within the limited period,Improve and cultivate part of the land,When not fulfilling obligations,You can hand over the land to any other person。Although this law is not strictly enforced,But it has a considerable effect。2. In North America,Except a few states,On all other British colonies,Lending the right to borrow land borrowing according to freedom,Make the land easy to cut,The leaders of large pieces of land feel,For your own interests,It is better to cut most of the land as soon as possible,Only retain a small amount of exemption land to collect land for land。So,workers used to improve land and farming land,More than any other country,The number and value of products provided by it are also very large。3. British immigrant workers,Not only can provide more and more valuable products,And because of moderate Bet365 lotto review taxation,Most of the products belong to them,They can store it,Used to maintain and promote a greater amount of labor to invest in reproduction。4. British colonial,In terms of disposal of its remaining products,colonies of any other European countries,All in a more favorable position,And has a wider market。But Britain's broad policy adopted by colonial trade,Roughly limited to the trade of raw materials or crude products。

Smith thinks,It is the above reasons,Make the right to use the land、The ownership of the land and the mission of the land owner (that is, the real interest) joint,It is relatively easy to promote the production and execution of high efficiency standards。That is to say,British in the colonial policy,Although the same as other countries,Domestic and influence by the spiritualism of the backdoor at the time,But in general,Not as narrow as other countries。In other words,Smith believes that the relatively loose free system in the UK has brought a series of development motivation to the British colony。

  Reveal the origin of the capitalist colonial system、Development and operation method

The superiority of the British colonial policy,It is mainly manifested in the progress of North American colonies。Inevanties,North America provides a large number of remaining products for Britain,expanded British wealth。and the contribution of the clan to the colony is to cultivate a large number of talents for it。In "National Wealth Theory",Smith described in detail and severely criticized the Britain's extensive constraints on North America and its domestic business and manufacturing。The Sailing Control Act requires that the trade between the colonies and the British Empire must be expanded on British ships,Some daily necessities were initially limited in the mother country market。From Smith's view,These policies will destroy the balance between the British industrial sector。For example,The British colonial policy also prevents colonial production from producing more advanced or more refined products。So,Although the UK allows duty -free input of raw iron and iron bars from North America, on the one hand,to reward this Bet365 app download junior manufacturing industry in North America,On the other hand, it is absolutely prohibited from establishing steel plants and iron plants on any British colony。Smith's recognition,Colonial relationships of this trade control,From the short term,That is, the colonial manufacturing industry is not developed,Both parties for both parties。It helps to create a self -supply economy consortium,and help reduce gold outflow。but,From the long run,Smith prophecy "under more advanced circumstances,This ban is likely to be a real oppression that cannot be tolerated "。

Smith said clearly: "In my opinion,Nothing is more favorable for both parties than this interconnected free trade。It helps break through that absurd monopoly,We mistakenly set up a monopoly that is not good for ourselves,It is only beneficial to the almost all of our various manufacturer classes。"So,He advocates that the mother country and colonial countries conduct free trade。About this,At that time, Smith and Lord Dundas communicated through letter exchanges,They agree with the Irish Parliament pass through the Irish free trade bill,and discussed the way to establish a "tariff alliance"。

According to Smith's understanding,If you still run a recreational policy in the colony,In direct aspect,It is a policy that government helps private enterprises,Use protection taxes、Reward、colonial and navigation regulations、The company's organization's privilege is supported; in the indirect aspect,It allows individuals to use private collective measures,Use rules or obey custom habits,Best Personal Freedom,Makes them from being unlimited competition。Contrary to,If the government is responsible for maintaining a system of natural freedom,It's just "protecting society,Make it from other independent social violence and infringement "; protect" every member of the society,Make it not bullied or oppressed by any other members,Or establishing a precise judicial administrative obligation ",Including the execution of a personal contract; "It is conducive to establishing and maintaining certain public undertakings and public agencies", Bet365 app download etc.。However, his government concept is not completely decentralized,As the anarchist claims later。What he means is that everyone fulfills their promise,In protecting the interests of others。The concept of self -ism of freedom,Taking the law as the backing,The concept of "security" cannot be separated。This concept also means "equality" for opportunity。

At the same time,The reason for promoting the rapid prosperity of British colonies is also closely related to a series of policies and system design of the British "trading mother"。For example,The British trading system also has a more active aspect: its taxes are more tax than some old business centers (such as Ferland、Its technical organization is more advanced,Its technical organization is more advanced,Therefore, more competitive advantage。At the beginning of the Elizabeth era,Overseas trade in the UK has ranked first in the world。From Smith's view,This prosperity is the result of the "natural freedom" of the British trade。Smith pointed out,The impact of restrictions on international trade on the name of international trade on the economy on the economy。In "National Wealth Theory",Smith imagined a variety of reform measures for the British economy: the free movement of labor、Career free choice、Reform apprentice system、Land free trade and conversion、Abolition of the privilege of the joint stock company、End of the restrictions on domestic and international trade。

In fact,There is no real freedom between the mother country and the colonial country。So,Some commentators believe that Smith is an imaginaryist,His free trade model is just an ideal that cannot be achieved。Later, with the role of North American colonial trade in the world economy, it has increased,The advantages of Britain in colonial trade are also increasing day by day。At the same time,With the change of trade strength,North America is also becoming more and more realized in business,Especially in their trade relations itself "is in inequality"。North America ’s independence war broke out。After that,A large -scale non -colonization movement has been set off within the scope of bet365 best casino games the world colonial system,It can be imagined and understood。

Non -colonized campaign not only rewritten the world pattern,At the same time, it also announced the official end of the era of classical political economy。and Smith's relevant exposition on the colonies became a legacy of him for modern capitalism,To recognize it clearer、Reflection and revealing the origin of the capitalist colonial system、Development and its operation methods provides unique theoretical basis。

(Author Unit: China University of Political Science and Law, China Law Strategy Research Center)

Editor in charge: Cui Cen
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