Wickham's musings from Chalke

There’s so much fighting in the world today. Perhaps colonial power should be reinstated. Most regions where fighting is endemic had a colonial power in charge until some form of independence was achieved and usually links have been retained culturally or by trade. Colonialism wouldn’t be the same as a hundred years ago. It could be formally approved by the UN with firm guidelines.

There would be benefits to both parties as there were a hundred years ago. The poorer country with the fighting would have the benefit of a police force backed up by soldiers from the rich colonial power but under the control of the poorer country’s government. Trade would be safer, the soldiers would spend some of their income, tourism could improve.

Most poor countries experiencing fighting have their agriculture totally wrecked by populations moving about to avoid bloodshed, returning later to ruined farms.

The richer country providing the security would of course expect some payment. At present I believe they get paid by the UN if they provide troops, but of course they are contributing to the UN too. The alternative would be access to resources such as crops and minerals as it was a hundred years ago, but with UN guidelines to ensure fair payment.

At present when fighting occurs somewhere, there is often a long delay before the UN manages to persuade some country to provide troops to quell the problem. The countries providing the troops have no long term interest in the area, they come in late, get substituted by troops from another country and probably leave too early so that fighting erupts a few years later.

A continual association with the previous colonial power might be advantageous for both parties provided they could forgive the heavy-handed colonialism of the past.