Arming the Periphery: The Arms Trade in the Indian Ocean during the Age of Global Empire

by E. Chew

Overview

A major historical study of the global arms trade, revolving around the transfer of small arms from metropolitan Europe to the turbulent frontiers of Indian Ocean societies during the 'long' nineteenth century (c.1780-1914).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230354852
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	06/12/2012
Edition description:	2012
Pages:	309
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 5.60(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

EMRYS CHEW Assistant Professor of History at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His research focuses on the interconnections between Asian and global history, with particular emphasis on the cross-cultural networks and exchanges that transformed warfare and strategy.

Table of Contents

Maps vii

Note on the cover illustration viii

Preface ix

Introduction 1

The organization of the book 3

Locating the arms trade in space and time 5

Foreshadowing the future? 7

1 The Arms Trade and Global Empire in the Indian Ocean 9

International arms transfers in historical perspective 9

Global arms trading in the age of industry and empire 20

Global arms trading in the Indian Ocean arena 31

Global arms trading in the Longue Durée 43

2 The Arms Trade in the Metropolis 47

England's small arms trade and Britain's industrial transformation 51

State or private enterprise? 61

New technology and new imperial competition 80

3 The Arms Trade in the Western Indian Ocean 98

European expansion into the Western zone 101

Indigenous crisis and the arming of the Western zone 123

Interlopers and intermediaries of the Western zone 135

The Baluchistan affair 148

4 The Arms Trade in the Eastern Indian Ocean 161

European expansion into the Eastern zone 165

Indigenous crisis and the arming of the Eastern zone 185

Interlopers and intermediaries of the Eastern zone 201

5 The Arms Trade and War in the Indian Ocean 211

The impact of military diffusion on cross-cultural collision, c.1780-1850 212

The impact of military diffusion on cross-cultural collision, c. 1850-1914 216

The future of arms transfers and warfare in the Indian Ocean world 220

Appendices

A General Figures of Proof (Birmingham Production, 1804-1914) 224

B Monthly Fluctuations in British Small Arms Exports, c.1860 to 1880 227

Notes 228

Bibliography 278

Index 295

Editorial Reviews

'It is difficult to imagine a historical subject with a deeper resonance for our present age than the development of the global arms trade. In this book, Emrys Chew presents an essential and deeply researched analysis of the arms industry and the arms trade in Europe and Asia during the nineteenth century.' - C.A. Bayly, University of Cambridge, UK

'Arming the Periphery brilliantly reveals that the trade in small arms and the arms transfer system it engendered between Europe and the Indian Ocean region were fundamental to the development both of empire and, paradoxically, of state formation in the region. To help us fully understand the likely impact of the international small arms trade of the present and future, we need to understand its past patterns and structure. This book provides a uniquely valuable guide to the past, and by extension, to the future too.' - Geoffrey Till, King's College London, UK

'As the Indian Ocean returns to the centre-stage of world politics, Arming the Periphery offers a deep insight into the historic evolution of the region's security order. Emrys Chew's fascinating story on the arms trade between the European centre and the Asian periphery in the long nineteenth century will uniquely enrich the twenty-first century debates on the Indian Ocean amidst the unfolding redistribution of power in the littoral.' - C. Raja Mohan, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, and Foreign Affairs Columnist for The Indian Express

'...well-researched, wide-ranging study...' - Highly recommended by Choice

From the Publisher