Wakefield System Colonial Theory Investigated

Best known as a colonization theorist and a founder of modem New Zealand, Edward Gibbon Wakefield first enunciated his theory of 'Systematic Colonization in 1829 when he was still a prisoner. In 1849, Wakefield published his most influential book A View of the Art of colonization, which incorporated all his ideas on the subject of colonization. In view of the domestic excessive competition, and the lack of both labor and capital in the colonies, Wakefield advocated that colonial land should be sold at a 'sufficient price' instead of being granted profusely, and the proceeds of land sales should be employed to defray the cost of emigration of those potential laborers for the colonies. Wakefield's colonization theory left perceptible marks on the colonial policy of the British government in the 1830s and 1840s.Based on his major publications and recent research on 'Systematic Colonization', this thesis intends to make a comprehensive study of Wakefield's theory. The first part of this thesis (Chapter I) is devoted to a brief introduction of Wakefield's life, publications as well as studies on this subject. Largely from the social and economic perspective, Chapter II examines the causes of the birth of Wakefield's theory: the 'excess' of labor and capital, and the social conflict derived from this at home; the deficient approach of land disposal and the notorious transportation system practiced in Australia. The following chapter traces the theoretical origin of Wakefield's ideas. It reveals that Wakefield obviously inherited Adam Smith's notion of colonization and further developed it. Meanwhile, it is equally apparent that Wakefield was an adherent of Thomas Malthus, whose population theory held sway in Britain in the first half of the 19th Century. Chapter IV focuses on the theory of 'Systematic Colonization' per se. It analyzes the content and the economic foundation of Wakefield's theory, with an elaboration on the core of his argument-the 'sufficient price'. Given the controversy that 'Systematic Colonization' incurred as regards its impact on the development of the British Empire, the last chapter explores to what extent the British government adopted Wakefield's theory, and the outcome of the relevant colonization schemes based on his ideas. With an investigation of Wakefield's 'South Australia Colonization' project and the land reforms in the early 19th Century in Australia, I maintain that Wakefield's theory shaped the colonial land policy of the imperial government in the 1830s and 1840s, which in turn stimulated the growth of Australia's economy. The influence of 'Systematic Colonization' is also manifested by the increase of immigrants to Australia during this period.On the whole, this overall inquiry demonstrates the basis of 'Systematic Colonization', in terms of both reality and theory. It also illustrates that Wakefield's theory produced marked effect on the colonial policy of the British Government in the first half of the 19th Century, particularly in the case of Australia's land reforms.