Labour, Poverty and the Export of Destitute Children As ‘Waste’

Abstract

We have been arguing that a close connection began to be established between early forms of exclusion and the interests of capital. The context is the rise to predominance of the ideas of classical liberal political economy in Britain, particularly those of Smith, Bentham and Malthus, ideas which increasingly shaped policy and opinion. Central to these changes were the relocation and reconceptualisation of the poor, and the working class generally, by reference to the ‘wealth of the nation’ and to State regulation and management of targeted populations. Thus, political economy became authoritative in the debates leading up to the changes to the Poor Law Acts (1834), with direct consequences for the population of children we are considering. This chapter uncovers the importance of colonial economy in determining national strategies and policies regarding the treatment of the poor and those who fell foul of the law because of poverty. Immigration, notably from Ireland to England, and migration, forced or otherwise, settler colonies of Australia, Canada and South Africa, were central to these strategies. There is thus a global and imperial scope to the problem of exclusion which tends to be neglected, in this case the exportation to the colonies of troublesome and troubled children. This element of the genealogy has implications for a fuller account of biopolitics which will be noted at the end of the chapter.

As for the destitute youth whose offences are less glaring, he should be subjected to compulsory emigration W.A. Miles. (1835a: Select Committee on goals: 400)