Scandals of Empire

"Empires were always a scandal for those who were colonized. What we seem to forget is that empires have always been scandals for the colonizers as well."

That's Nick Dirks, of Columbia, publicizing his new book and reminding us that the faulty intelligence, mixed-up motives, and shady Halliburton Contracts of today are not so different from British shenanigans in the 17th century. Consider:

"When the British East India Company's charter was in jeopardy as early as 1693, company shares were used to influence parliamentary support for charter renewal. In 1695, just a few years after the opening of the stock market in London, the report of the parliamentary investigation into the developing scandal over quick fortunes made through bribery and insider trading led to the dismissal of the speaker of the House of Commons, the impeachment of the lord president of the council and the imprisonment of the governor of the East India Company."

There's more here.