Constructing Ionian identities: the Ionian Islands in British official ...

context of the Empire, this placed European countries “colonised” by the British,
such as Malta, Ireland and the Ionian Islands, in a unique, ambivalent situation. 79
They were European, yet they were also racially and culturally separate from the
British.
As Bayly argued, Britain established an autocratic government in the Ionian
Islands between 1816 and 1824 based on “hierarchy and racial superiority”. 80 The
British considered themselves different from other nationalities, including fellow
Europeans, comparing and ranking themselves against France, Germany and other
nations on numerous levels. Britain’s pre-eminent position in the world, with its
wealth, empire, and achievements in representative government, were attributed to
its distinct ethnic identity and the collection of hereditary character traits passed
down from the original Anglo-Saxon settlers. 81 Protestantism was compared with,
and deemed superior to, other religions such as Catholicism and Judaism. The British
had a genius for self-government, industry, justice, honesty, and fair play. Other
European countries might share some of these characteristics, but never in the same
way as the British. 82
79 For example, in Irish historiography there is a debate about whether Ireland was a colony and
whether the Irish were racially treated by British. Some scholars reject the notion that Ireland was a
colony and the existence of anti-Irish racism in Britain. See, Foster R. F., “History and the Irish
Question” in Foster R. F., Paddy and Mr. Punch: Connections in English and Irish History, (London,
1993), pp. 1-20; Howe S., Ireland and Empire: Colonial Legacies in Irish History and Culture
(Oxford, 2002). Others held opposite views, see, Kinealy C., “At home with the Empire: the example
of Ireland” in Hall C., and Rose S.,(eds.) At home with the Empire, pp. 77-100; Curtis L. P. Apes and
Angels: the Irishman in Victorian Caricature, (Washington and London, 1971); Hall C., “The nation
within and without” in Hall C., McClelland K., Rendall J., Defining the Victorian Nation.
80 Bayly C. A., Imperial Meridian, pp. 8-9.
81 De Nie M., The Eternal Paddy, p. 9.
82 Ibid., pp. 9-10.
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