Research in Anthropology: Soft Power's Impact on Colonial Empires

This report, rooted in anthropological research, explores the enduring impact of soft power in colonial empires, particularly in the USA and Canada. It challenges the conventional view that military strength was the primary factor in the longevity of colonial rule. The research examines the influence of cultural assimilation, societal reforms, and the establishment of a composite culture imposed by colonizers. The study employs a systematic literature review, evaluating the impact on native populations' quality of life, wealth distribution, and overall societal changes. The central argument posits that soft power, encompassing cultural influence and societal reforms, played a more significant role than military might in solidifying colonial power. The report highlights the potential of cultural anthropology to offer nuanced historical interpretations, drawing parallels with the evolution of psychology and emphasizing the value of empirical evidence in understanding complex historical phenomena. The conclusion reinforces the importance of considering the lived experiences of common people, rather than solely focusing on historical milestones, to gain a comprehensive understanding of a society.

Abstract
Three centuries ago psychology was a subject which was majorly dependent on the literature,
especially the fictional tales. It was a compulsion with them to learn from the anecdotes and
characters as they were described in the stories. It was happening because psychology as a
subject was not able to accommodate mathematics and science in its mainstream. During the last
50 years, experts of psychology developed a knowledge pool based on the empirical studies, now
they are able to answer complex system.
Can we repeat the same history with the cultural anthropology, under its current stream, most of
the historians are treating it as a side stream in order to punctuate or corroborate certain historical
facts? After the arrival of advanced tools of measuring certain areas, cultural anthropology also
has this capacity to explore the history and come up with new findings challenge history
(Viswesvaran, 2010).

Topic: A research from the lens view of cultural anthropology: Role of the Soft powers in
strengthening the empire of colonial powers was more lasting in comparison with their
“military might”.
Introduction
Culture is a variable phenomenon of the society; it keeps on changing, as per the evolution of the
society or the presence of a sovereign. History is full of such examples where a winning army
changed the culture of a far off land by threatening them with the might and dire consequences.
Many big monarchies of the world survived for longer periods because they changed the mass
culture of the land and assimilated their rivals into a cultural umbrella. The history of the USA
and Canada is full of such examples; European forces construct colonies to produce slaves
(Gilkeson, 2010). Apart from the historical wars and flourishing businesses in the colonies, these
colonizers also changed the culture of the place as well. This practice gives us an idea about the
relationship between the longevity of an empire and the cultural impact. In order to explore the
statement even further we can also present a hypothesis for the same.
Hypothesis
“The study of the cultural anthropology with an intention to measure the impact of the colonizers
on the native land can help us in finding a relationship between the strength of the regime and its
penetration in the cultural fabric of the native land.
Thesis statement
The thesis statement of this research is taking us to the next level of the hypothesis and connects
it with present-day terminology of the culture and social changes. This thesis statement goes as

under. The rule of the colonial powers finds a better establishment in the native colonies of the
USA and Canada because of the prevalence of soft powers rather than the military might and
superior weaponry (Descola, 2013).
The topic of the research
The history of the colonies of the USA and Canada gives us ample examples where the natives
started living under a composite culture. This new culture was imposed upon them by the
colonial powers. Broadly there were three intentions behind this new composite culture. First it
was supporting the prospects of commercial gains of the colonizing powers, second, it was
adding discipline in the society and third it was adding some positive changes in the native
societies which can be termed as reforms.
This composite culture gives us the topic of this research that says, the soft powers inflicted by
the colonial rulers brought in some reforms in the native societies and a better lifestyle gave them
a better quality of living. This better quality of living was a major reason behind the strength of a
colonial empire.
Methods
In order to cover this topic, we will launch a systemic literature review while picking up some
unconventional terms for the search. During the course of this research we will examine the
reigns, revolts and quality of the life of the natives and try to draw a conclusion that whether soft
powers has a bearing on the nature of the regime or it was simply the power of the might or the
fear of losing one’s life that was ruling (Bennett, 2014).

The nature of the research will be incremental where we will try to compare different practices
under a predetermined set of variables. For instance, “quality of the life” of the native people can
be one barometer, the distribution of the wealth and profits can be another barometer. Similarly
many more metrics can be drawn.
Conclusion
History can be seen beyond the hard facts and extreme anecdotes, history only highlights the
highest point of a civilization, however, it is not the highest point but it is the median where
common people are living, forms the correct picture of a society. It happened with the
psychology three hundred years ago when dramatists and experts of the literature supplied facts
and theories. In the current century once again, filmmakers and documentary makers are doing
the same thing by interpreting different eras under the light of present day worldly wisdom.
Cultural anthropology in the 21st century has this potential to add some exact values into their
interpretation and establish a few picture postcards from the past that can be considered as
closest to reality.

Bibliography
Bennett, T. (2014) ‘Liberal government and the practical history of anthropology’, History and
Anthropology, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 150–170.
Descola, P. (2013) Beyond Nature and Culture, Chicago and London, University of Chicago
Press.
Gilkeson, J. (2010) Anthropologists and the Discovery of America, Cambridge, Cambridge
University Press.
Visweswaran, K. (2010) Un/common Cultures: Racism and the Rearticulation of Cultural
Difference, Durham, NC, and London, Duke University Press.