Morty Vicar
Banned
This is just patently untrue.
There are a handful of examples of former colonies gaining independence peacefully, its unusual but entirely possible.
As you are referring to, the USA's long held policy of effectively puppetising many nations in Latin America (particularly Central America) does prove that its own colonial origins was not a impediment to its own version of imperialism.
It goes back even further, it could even refer to the war of 1812.
Basically, I agree that the essence of imperial domination would not change, but I disagree with others who suggest that NOTHING would change. Even going back as far as the early 20th century, OVERT racism (much of the justification for official state colonialism), was a lot more unacceptable in left-wing circles than among their right-wing counterparts, so there would be at least some changes.
True, but in its place there was a militant anti-clericalism, which would impact heavily on most of the colonies of the time. The colonial powers of the OTL were usually relatively tolerant to local religions, with a few exceptions, preferring usually to send in missionaries to convert the natives voluntarily.
I was under the impression that exactly the opposite was true.
I am now trying to track down a leaflet I once laid my eyes on somehwere.
It was distributed among the Parisians by some socialist/marxist organisation during an International Trade Fair (or something) that took place in Paris in the early 1900s. The slogan on the leaflet read something along the lines of "People of France! Don't take any pride in the ruthless exploitation of the peoples of the colonies".
I'm not quite sure whether that was part of a consistent overall strategy against colonialism on behalf of the french Left, or simply an isolated attempt at focusing opposition against the capitalist Trade Fair, though.
It reads more like pre-Revolutionary idealist propaganda. As soon as the Revolution was finished France pretty much resumed business as usual, only maybe without such a strong influence of the church and the politics of the european royal houses. During the Haitian Revolution the French Royalists actually fought on the side of the Haitian revolutionaries, not that the French Revolutionaries were bona fide socialists as such.
One interesting side effect would be a much larger, earlier non-white population in Britain. While there would doubtless be local hostility on the ground, a dominant socialist governement would be keen to play up its internationalist credentials and lay emphasis on the multi-national nature of the Empire. Expect a lot of two-way traffic in bureaucrats, politicians and businessmen from one area of the empire to the other.
I don't know if there would be a much larger non white population, after all those who went to Britain did so because of opportunities available there that didn't exist in their own countries/ colonies. As for playing a greater role in the civil service etc, it could be argued that non whites were motivated by some sense of working for equal rights, wheras in the ideal socialist scenario this wouldn't be necessary as they would be able to administer their own affairs in the colonies. Incidentally non whites were not only members of the communist and liberal parties, but also conservative.