Debt and Informal Imperialism: Europe, America, Asia c. 1815-1915 (Dr. Juan Luis Simal Duran)

The Department of History would like to invite everyone to attend the public lecture of Dr. Juan Luis Simal Duran (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) entitled "Debt and Informal Imperialism: Europe, America, Asia c. 1815-1915". The lecture will be held on October 9, 2025 (Thursday) 2:30 - 4:00 PM at Silid Balatik, 1st Floor, Pavilion 2, Palma Hall, UP Diliman.

ABSTRACT:
This lecture explores the role of European bondholders as agents of informal imperialism in Europe, America and Asia in the period 1815-1915. Through a historical-financial approach, it examines the formation of bondholder committees, their strategies to pressure debtor states, and their relations with the main financial European powers, especially Britain and France. Ultimately, bondholders played a significant role in the international economic structure and should be given serious consideration in debates on informal imperialism and financial domination in the long nineteenth century. Special attention is given to the case of the Spanish debt at two moments of crisis: the revolutions in Latin America (1810-1825), and the final dissolution of the Empire in 1898.