Rüstow credited all cultural progress in colonized regions to colonization itself

Evidence

Subsequently, however, the focus of Rüstow’s contribution shifted considerably. The second Rüstow went on to reject “typical” accusations against colonial powers as allegedly preventing colonial people from attaining a cultural development similar to “ours.” He interprets all progress in this direction as a result of colonization; thus, colonized people might be happier without the external enforcement of civilization, but they would also be left more “backward” (ibid., 516). — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 1300

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the chapter’s wider theme of MPS figures defending colonialism’s record, complementing the Röpke material on Western guilt.