Opium, the British Empire and the beginnings of an international drugs control regime, ca. 1890-1910
This thesis will examine British attitudes and agendas during the build-up, proceedings and aftermath of the Shanghai Opium Commission (1909) which marked the first step towards the establishment of an international drugs control regime. The research is presented chronologically and draws on a wide range of primary and secondary source documents, including previously unused material in the National Archives of India. It will assess how far revenue concerns shaped British positions on the questions of the opium traffic and the regulation of opium consumption around the turn of the twentieth century. I argue that a more nuanced and complex appreciation of British positions is necessary in order to understand the foundation years of the international drugs control regime. The British agenda at the Shanghai Opium Commission represented varied and often competing visions of opium regulation held at different levels of the imperial and colonial administration. Moral, political and commercial concerns amongst some British groups motivated their commitment to end the India-China opium trade. The British no longer sought to defend their revenues derived from exports of opium from India to China. Instead the British
Gibbon, Luke
Opium, the British Empire and the beginnings of an international drugs control regime, ca. 1890-1910. This thesis will examine British attitudes and agendas during the build-up, proceedings and aftermath of the Shanghai Opium Commission (1909) which marked the first step towards the establishment of an international drugs control regime. The research is presented chronologically and draws on a wide range of primary and secondary source documents, including previously unused material in the National Archives of India. It will assess how far revenue concerns shaped British positions on the questions of the opium traffic and the regulation of opium consumption around the turn of the twentieth century. I argue that a more nuanced and complex appreciation of British positions is necessary in order to understand the foundation years of the international drugs control regime. The British agenda at the Shanghai Opium Commission represented varied and often competing visions of opium regulation held at different levels of the imperial and colonial administration. Moral, political and commercial concerns amongst some British groups motivated their commitment to end the India-China opium trade. The British no longer sought to defend their revenues derived from exports of opium from India to China. Instead the British
opium british_empire international drug control regime examine british_attitude agendas build_up proceeding aftermath opium commission mark first_step towards establishment international drug control regime present chronologically draws wide_range primary_secondary_source document include previously unused material national india ass far revenue concern shape british position question opium traffic regulation opium consumption around turn argue nuanced complex appreciation british position necessary order foundation year international drug control regime british agenda opium commission represent varied often compete vision opium regulation hold_different level imperial colonial_administration moral_political commercial concern amongst british group motivate commitment end india_china opium trade british long seek defend revenue derive export opium india_china instead british