Description
This paper explores the potential for a Truth-Telling Commission on British Imperialism to confront the historical legacies of colonialism and imperialism within Britain, its relationships with former colonies, and the international order as it evolves today. While truth commissions have effectively exposed colonial harms and promoted reconciliation in other contexts, Britain has yet to undertake such an initiative despite its central role in global imperialism. Drawing from transitional justice literature and decolonial thought, this study compares truth-telling commissions in British settler-colonies like Australia and Canada to extract relevant lessons for the UK. Using qualitative methods, including fieldwork, stakeholder interviews, and public engagement, the research proposes a blueprint for Britain to confront its imperial past and lays the groundwork for reparative justice. This paper contributes to dismantling the silences around empire by exploring how institutionalized truth-telling could challenge the enduring legacies of imperialism, supporting movements for justice and equality in Britain and its former colonies. It also highlights the ontological, epistemic, and material challenges of establishing such a commission, inviting further scholarly inquiry and public debate on the necessity and feasibility of truth-telling mechanisms. By positioning Britain as a focal point for historical silencing, this research advances critical understandings of imperialism’s persistent influence on contemporary global structures and the new world order in the making.
