Imperial Mythology in the Political Thought of Benjamin Disraeli

<ns7:p>Background The article examines the construction of imperial mythology, its structure and its significance for political activity within Benjamin Disraeli’s political thought. The research questions concerned the structure of Disraeli’s imperial thought and the role it played within the broader framework of his political philosophy. The central hypothesis of this study posits that Disraeli developed a new myth of empire as a key component of his conservative national mythology. This mythology not only underpinned the ideological foundations of his political agenda but also served as a means of integrating society around the government and its leader. Method The article is using qualitative research methods. The methodological approach employed to achieve this research objective involves a critical analysis of primary sources, which constitute a diverse set of Disraeli’s ideological pronouncements. The primary sources include Disraeli’s parliamentary speeches, journalistic essays, and selected literary works. Results The text shows how the story of the British Empire gradually appears in Disraeli’s conservative rhetoric, over time assuming a key role therein. Particularly after gaining power in the country, Disraeli was faced with the need to justify his vision of British foreign policy. In his typical manner, he then included the principle of strengthening the empire in the catalogue of national values. Conclusions On the basis of these materials, the article reconstructs the structure of the ideas he articulated concerning the British Empire. The paper points that the integrative idea proposed by Disraeli was an element of a new political metalanguage. Imperial patriotism allowed the nation to unite, rejecting the temptations of cosmopolitan individualism or class struggle. Disraeli’s goal was to create a sense of collective happiness for which the idea of empire would be the ontological axis. The conservative myth thus provided a foundation for rootedness and placed the Englishman in a common, national reality.</ns7:p>