Jessica Hanser- Mr. Smith Goes to China

Description:
Jessica Hanser is an associate professor of History at the University of British Columbia. She specializes in the history of eighteenth and nineteenth century colonialism in Asia. Hanser discusses her book, Mr. Smith Goes to China: Three Scots in the Making of Britain's Global Empire. She argues that the origins of Britain's imperial, predatory financial engagements with the peoples whom they interacted in port cities in Asia can be understood in greater depth by analyzing the development of these transactional relationships through a micro-historical approach; in this case, by following the careers of three George Smiths in Asia.