Cromer

The Earl of Cromer seeks to justify and provide an argument for Great Britain’s colonialism of Egypt in his book Modern Egypt. The book, which was published in 1908, presents the colonialism of Egypt as a noble cause that England did not choose but they must perform it as some higher duty. In doing this Cromer presents the most ignoble presentation of the Egyptian people by building straw man arguments that he subsequently knocks down. In the process he unwittingly contradicts himself as the discerning reader will quickly realize that many of the arguments he presents for British colonialization of Egypt also apply to his own country.
Cromer wisely avoids using the term colonialism and he even dares to say that England was actually the savior of the Egyptian people and Egyptian society. He also states that, “the saviour should believe in himself and his mission, this the Englishman did.”
He presents the following arguments as to why the English had to “save” Egypt. One of them was that the majority of the poor and …show more content…
He acknowledges the scientific advancements of ancient Egyptians, but he believes their descendants are stupid. If Egypt is to become a modern civilized it must be under the watchful eye and firm hand of their English big brother.
Cromer’s work is a racist and stereotypical diatribe that echoes the colonialist views that were common during the era. The notion of the “White Man’s Burden” was still fully endorsed and Cromer believed that the English as an “Imperial race” was destined to rule or “save” all the lesser yellow, black, and brown skinned races from. Many of the justifications for English colonialization of Egypt could easily be used against the English themselves. It is horrifying that this work was used as a source document to educate Westerners to the customs and traditions of Egyptians and Middle Eastern