Publication

This paper looks at the complex and nuanced critique of the British invasion of Java in 1811 that was put forward by William Cobbett, a contemporary Tory writer and pamphleteer. It illustrates that the Java invasion was not as widely supported at the time as previously thought; and that anti-war activism has in fact a long history that dates back to the 19th century. According to the author, reading Cobbett‘s critique is still relevant today due to his instructive criticism of the converging interests of both capital and militarism; as well as the long-term consequences of colonial adventurism and imperial overreach.