Italy pursued deliberate territorial expansion while Britain’s grew by accident

Evidence

The position in respect of Italian interests and hopes in Somalia was very different. From the beginning, Somalia was of primary concern to Italy, and in taking over direct responsibility for the Benadir coast in 1905 the Italian government did so with every intention of developing a true colony which could serve the mother-country both as a source of primary goods and as a convenient receptacle for some of Italy’s surplus population. From the beginning, therefore, the Italian policy was to extend their effective authority within the widest possible territorial limits, the increasing penetration and opening up of the hinterland being a direct object, not as in British Somaliland an unlooked for consequence of the Dervish rising. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 250 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

To call this process “Imperialist expansion” is nonsense, if by that is meant the deliberate acquisition of political power. … Of India it has been well said that the British Empire was acquired in a fit of absence of mind. — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 1523 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

The Seven Years War left the British government in charge of the lands to the west of the existing British colonies, from the Great Lakes down to the Mississippi. — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 1347 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Italian colonial policy sought active expansion while British policy was passive coastal defense — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 250; Britain’s rule in India was established almost by accident — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 1523; The Seven Years War expanded British territorial control significantly. — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 1347 (+1 more)

Related

• Italian colonial policy sought active expansion while British policy was passive coastal defense (similarity 0.87)
• The Seven Years War expanded British territorial control significantly. (similarity 0.79)
• Britain’s rule in India was established almost by accident (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Italian colonial policy sought active expansion while British policy was passive coastal defense #corroborates (0.90) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 250
• Britain’s rule in India was established almost by accident #exemplifies (0.70) — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 1523
• The Seven Years War expanded British territorial control significantly. #exemplifies (0.60) — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 1347