Most Western proponents of imperialism had little doubt that the conquest and colonization of Africa and Asia were a moral undertaking. Starting with the assumption that their own societies represented the pinnacle of human achievement, that they were citizens of the most “civilized” nations the world had ever seen, they argued that the West had a right, even a duty, to rule. The “backwards” peoples of the world could only benefit from Western guidance. Westerners were likened to firm but fair teachers, patiently pointing unruly and unpromising students in the direction of progress and morality. Not surprisingly, many non-Western critics of imperialism rejected such analogies, pointing out both the defects in Western societies and the value of their own traditions and accomplishments. As you read the documents included in this feature, focus on the counter-arguments they offer to Western justifications of imperialism. How do these authors characterize the West? What claims do they make about their own societies?