Historical and classical studies seminar

The Department of Historical and Classical Studies invites you to the next instalment of our fortnightly seminar series. Please join us on May 26 at 11am in Napier 420 to welcome Professor Matt Fitzpatrick (Flinders University)

Title:
A Pacific Power: Germany’s ‘Liberal Imperialism’ in Samoa

Abstract:
Before the First World War, Germany was a global empire with colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Annexed to this empire in 1900 was Samoa, a thriving Polynesian trading hub which had previously been the site of conflict between Britain, Germany, and the United States. This paper examines the tension between German rulers and Samoan subjects, as well as the variety of ways in which Germans sought to reshape the colony according to their own requirements. At the same time, it uncovers the social and cultural experiments of a colony that treated matters of sexuality, race, and religion in often unexpected ways.

Bio:
Matt Fitzpatrick is Matthew Flinders Professor of International History at Flinders University. Professor Fitzpatrick specialises in international history, in particular German and European history, as well as the history of European imperialism, German liberalism and nationalism. He is also interested in the comparative history of empires, and intellectual history, and is the current President of the History Council of South Australia.