In this book, Harry Gelber examines centuries of colonial interaction and argues for a close link between revolution in 18th century Europe and the development of Asian nationalism from the 19th Century onwards. The author reviews how adoption of European industrial and financial practices encouraged an adoption of European ideologies in general. Asia became attracted by liberal principles particularly that of national self-determination and decolonization. The effect was to change the future balance of international power.

This book questions the universal belief that England's 1840-42 war with China was an 'Opium War'. What really worried London was 'insults to the crown', the claim of a dilapidated and corrupt China to be superior to everyone, threats to British men and women and seizure of British property, plus the wish to expand and free trade everywhere. It was only much later that general Chinese resentment and Evangelical opinion at home - and in America - persuaded everyone that Britain had indeed been wicked and fought for opium.