Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-5-the-informal-empire [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa.md) › The Informal Empire # The Informal Empire History: AQA A Level The British Empire, topic 1.2.5 ## The Informal Empire In 1953, Gallagher and Robinson wrote an article called _"The Imperialism of Free Trade"_. It outlined a theory that the British Empire was split into the 'formal' and 'informal' empire. ### The informal empire ![The informal empire](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/0918be01-7f07-431c-b700-1cace4a229d6/british%20empire.png) - Britain had no legal claim over many areas in which it wielded influence, namely through economic agreements. - These areas became known as Britain's ‘informal empire’. ### Iran ![Iran](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Isfahan,%20Iran-min.jpg) - Countries like Iran were part of Britain's informal empire. - In 1891, a British business bought the rights for the entire Iranian tobacco industry. - In 1901, a British business, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, bought all the rights to Iran's oil for a period of 60 years. ### Latin America ![Latin America](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/32d151b2-a9c5-4734-a79e-83131b7e4b37/south-america-.jpg) - Some of the informal Empire was controlled through commercial agreements. - For example, public capital in Latin America reached £80 million in 1865. - The economists Bordo & Rockoff have found that there is an association between being part of the formal empire instead of the informal empire. Obstfeld (2003) finds that "more money was invested in de jure colonies like India, than de facto colonies like Argentina". ### Upholding agreements ![Upholding agreements](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Machu%20Picchu,%20Peru-min.jpeg) - Often, military power was needed to secure ‘free trade’ agreements and the Royal Navy was brought into Peru and Chile to uphold treaties. ### Historical assessment ![Historical assessment](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/6c4f07f2-bc4d-4b46-973d-d9b59d692f26/british-empire-.jpg) - Historians Gallagher and Robinson (1953) argue that "Mid-Victorian 'indifference' and late-Victorian 'enthusiasm' for empire were directly related to the rise and decline in free-trade beliefs". - Gallagher and Robinson (1953) also argue that "the dependence of the commercial thrust upon the political arm resulted in a general tendency for British trade to follow the invisible flag of informal empire." ## Test yourself on The Informal Empire [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/4dd48474-7381-4a8b-8d47-f52ec6b25dfd/section/340125fd-1b98-4ca8-abcd-b784f1e9b8cc/session) - Previous topic: [1.2.4 Scramble for Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-4-scramble-for-africa.md) - Next topic: [1.3.1 Trade & Commerce in the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-1-trade-and-commerce-in-the-empire.md) ## History: AQA A Level The British Empire contents ### 1 High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914 - 1.1 Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890 - [1.1.1 Empires over Time](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-1-empires-over-time.md) - [1.1.2 Key Questions About Empires](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-2-key-questions-about-empires.md) - [1.1.3 Expansion into Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-3-expansion-into-africa.md) - [1.1.4 History of Egypt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-4-history-of-egypt.md) - [1.1.5 Control of Egypt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-5-control-of-egypt.md) - [1.1.6 Control of Sudan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-6-control-of-sudan.md) - 1.2 Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890 - [1.2.1 The British Empire & India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-1-the-british-empire-and-india.md) - [1.2.2 The British Raj](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-2-the-british-raj.md) - [1.2.3 International Relations with other Powers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-3-international-relations-with-other-powers.md) - [1.2.4 Scramble for Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-4-scramble-for-africa.md) - [1.2.5 The Informal Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-5-the-informal-empire.md) - 1.3 Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890 - [1.3.1 Trade & Commerce in the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-1-trade-and-commerce-in-the-empire.md) - [1.3.2 Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-2-infrastructure-of-trade-and-commerce.md) - [1.3.3 Products of Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-3-products-of-trade-and-commerce.md) - 1.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890 - [1.4.1 Explorers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-1-explorers.md) - [1.4.2 Missionaries](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-2-missionaries.md) - [1.4.3 Traders & Colonial Administrators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-3-traders-and-colonial-administrators.md) - [1.4.4 Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-4-government-attitudes-towards-imperialism.md) - 1.5 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890 - [1.5.1 Relations with India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-5-1-relations-with-india.md) - [1.5.2 Relations with South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-5-2-relations-with-south-africa.md) - [1.5.3 British-Boer Relations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-5-3-british-boer-relations.md) ### 2 Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914 - 2.1 Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914 - [2.1.1 Consolidation & Expansion into Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-1-1-consolidation-and-expansion-into-africa.md) - [2.1.2 Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-1-2-consolidation-and-expansion-in-south-africa.md) - [2.1.3 Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-1-3-historical-interpretations-expansion-into-africa.md) - 2.2 Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914 - [2.2.1 Policy in India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-1-policy-in-india.md) - [2.2.2 Policy in Egypt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-2-policy-in-egypt.md) - [2.2.3 Native Policy in Colonies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-3-native-policy-in-colonies.md) - [2.2.4 International Relations with Other Powers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-4-international-relations-with-other-powers.md) - 2.3 Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914 - [2.3.1 The Benefits of Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-3-1-the-benefits-of-trade.md) - [2.3.2 Costs of the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-3-2-costs-of-the-empire.md) - [2.3.3 Debates Over Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-3-3-debates-over-trade.md) - 2.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914 - [2.4.1 Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-1-key-administrators-chamberlain-and-rhodes.md) - [2.4.2 Key Administrators - Baring & Milner](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-2-key-administrators-baring-and-milner.md) - [2.4.3 Key Administrators - Curzon](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-3-key-administrators-curzon.md) - [2.4.4 Government Attitudes to the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-4-government-attitudes-to-the-empire.md) - [2.4.5 National Efficiency & the Boer War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-5-national-efficiency-and-the-boer-war.md) - [2.4.6 Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-6-popular-attitudes-towards-imperialism.md) - 2.5 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914 - [2.5.1 Challenges in India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-1-challenges-in-india.md) - [2.5.2 Challenges in Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-2-challenges-in-africa.md) - [2.5.3 Challenges in South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-3-challenges-in-south-africa.md) - [2.5.4 Historical Interpretations of the Boer War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-4-historical-interpretations-of-the-boer-war.md) - [2.5.5 Relations & Business with Iran](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-5-relations-and-business-with-iran.md) ### 3 Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967 - 3.1 Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947 - [3.1.1 Impact of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-1-impact-of-ww1.md) - [3.1.2 Palestine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-2-palestine.md) - [3.1.3 Ireland & WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-3-ireland-and-ww1.md) - [3.1.4 Impact of WW2 on the British Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-4-impact-of-ww2-on-the-british-empire.md) - 3.2 Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947 - [3.2.1 Administration in India & Palestine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-2-1-administration-in-india-and-palestine.md) - [3.2.2 Administration in Iraq & the Dominions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-2-2-administration-in-iraq-and-the-dominions.md) - [3.2.3 Imperial Defence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-2-3-imperial-defence.md) - 3.3 Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War - [3.3.1 Economic Impact of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-3-1-economic-impact-of-ww1.md) - [3.3.2 Inter-War Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-3-2-inter-war-trade-and-commerce.md) - [3.3.3 Economic Impact of WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-3-3-economic-impact-of-ww2.md) - 3.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914 - [3.4.1 Colonial Administrators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-1-colonial-administrators.md) - [3.4.2 Trusteeship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-2-trusteeship.md) - [3.4.3 Gandhi](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-3-gandhi.md) - [3.4.4 Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-4-montagu-haig-and-linlithgow.md) - [3.4.5 Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-5-cameron-mitchell-cohen-and-furse-african-admins.md) - [3.4.6 Imperialist Ideals](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-6-imperialist-ideals.md) - 3.5 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947 - [3.5.1 Ireland & India 1914-1947](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-5-1-ireland-and-india-1914-1947.md) - [3.5.2 The Middle East and Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-5-2-the-middle-east-and-africa.md) ### 4 The Wind of Change, 1947-1967 - 4.1 Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967 - [4.1.1 Reasons for Decolonisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-1-reasons-for-decolonisation.md) - [4.1.2 Decolonisation in East & West Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-2-decolonisation-in-east-and-west-africa.md) - [4.1.3 Decolonisation in Central & South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-3-decolonisation-in-central-and-south-africa.md) - [4.1.4 Decolonisation in Asia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-4-decolonisation-in-asia.md) - 4.2 Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967 - [4.2.1 Relations & Business with Iran after WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-1-relations-and-business-with-iran-after-ww2.md) - [4.2.2 The 'Winds of Change'](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-2-the-winds-of-change.md) - [4.2.3 The Suez Canal Crisis - 1956](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-3-the-suez-canal-crisis-1956.md) - [4.2.4 International Relations 1947-1967](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-4-international-relations-1947-1967.md) - 4.3 Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967 - [4.3.1 The Economic Impact of WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-3-1-the-economic-impact-of-ww2.md) - 4.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967 - [4.4.1 Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-4-1-colonial-administrators-cohen-and-arden-clarke.md) - [4.4.2 Local Leaders in the Independence Movement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-4-2-local-leaders-in-the-independence-movement.md) - [4.4.3 Pan-Africanism in Nationalism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-4-3-pan-africanism-in-nationalism.md) - 4.5 Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967 - [4.5.1 Windrush & Immigration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-5-1-windrush-and-immigration.md) - [4.5.2 Commonwealth Immigrants Act](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-5-2-commonwealth-immigrants-act.md) - [4.5.3 Residual Impact of the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-5-3-residual-impact-of-the-empire.md) - 4.6 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967 - [4.6.1 Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 1947](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-6-1-challenges-to-colonial-rule-post-1947.md) - [4.6.2 Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-6-2-kenya-and-the-mau-mau-uprising.md) - [4.6.3 Nigeria & Rhodesia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-6-3-nigeria-and-rhodesia.md)