202410221433 Status: #idea Tags: #history #institutions #british_empire #bureaucracy #meritocracy # British India failed to integrate the educated class into the government As British India matured and began to recruit from the ranks of the native population to run its bureaucracy, a Western-educated, English-speaking class began to emerge. Since they were heavily influenced by Western ideals and English culture in particular, they aspired to many of the same things that the British in India aspired to - pursuing government posts and reaching high positions in the Indian Civil Service. However, when George Curzon became Viceroy of India, he pivoted from leaning on the Indian educated class to instead trying to instill a pseudo-feudal societal hierarchy, leveraging the traditional noble families in India as his figureheads. This angered the educated class, as they were cut off from advancement in the Indian Civil Service. This failure to integrate the educated class and gradually transition India’s rule over to this Anglicized, loyal class contributed to the downfall of British rule in India. It essentially removed all forms of meritocracy for natives in the British system in India and destroyed Britain's advantageous setup: [[A hybrid aristocratic and meritocratic system is optimal for national stewardship]] --- # References [[Empire_ the rise and demise of the British world order and the lessons for global power]]