Elizabeth Imber: Uncertain Empire: Jews, Nationalism, and the Fate of British Imperialism
Type
Video
Date
3-31-2026
Description
Following the British conquest of Ottoman Palestine, Jews across the British Empire—from Jerusalem to Johannesburg, London to Calcutta—found themselves at the heart of global Jewish political discourse. As these intellectuals, politicians, activists, and communal elites navigated shifting political landscapes, some envisioned Palestine as a British dominion, leveraging imperial power for Jewish state-building, while others fostered ties with anticolonial movements, contemplating independent national aspirations. In this talk, Clark University professor Elizabeth Imber (History) explores the intricate interplay between British imperialism, Zionism, and anticolonial movements from the 1917 British conquest of Palestine to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. With context from her new book, Uncertain Empire: Jews, Nationalism, and the Fate of British Imperialism (Stanford University Press, 2025), Imber will show how the British Empire’s fate became central to Zionist and broader Jewish political thought during a time marked by profound urgency and exigency.
Recommended Citation
Clark University, "Elizabeth Imber: Uncertain Empire: Jews, Nationalism, and the Fate of British Imperialism" (2026). Clark University Video Archive. 368.
https://commons.clarku.edu/videoarchive/368
