h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If taken within the context of the 19th Century politics of Europe rather than this comparison to 20th Century global politics, Leopold II's expansionist ambitions are perfectly understandable. He was the product of the age, who was attempting to compete with the Third Republic in France, and eager to demonstrate Belgium's standing in the face of a militaristic Prussian dominated Germany. Leopold was desperate to compete in the Scramble because that was the measure of greatness of a European Power: Africa was a European concern, and we are wrong to judge Belgian 'crimes against humanity' by our own 21st century standards.

I'd say that sort of depends. While it's true that Leopold's original motives were partially due to the need, as you say, to compete with the rather unsuccessful Third Republic and as-yet-unformed Germany. However, that does not change the fact that it was largely on Leopold's orders that the Force Publique killed and abused millions of native Africans, forcing them to labour in what is essentially a slave system for the rubber that they sure didn't need. Though the whole thing began in the 1880s, it did quite definitely stretch through into the 20th century and gave us a nice lead-up into WWI, and so 20th century politics are very much a concern.

In my history class, we did a mock trial based on the workings of the International Criminal Court. I defended Leopold against those same charges of 'crimes against humanity', and thus I am terribly familiar with how the actions of the past can be evaluated by the standards of the present. Leopold may have had other motives for what he did, sure, but that doesn't change what he did. Are you going to let Hitler off because his motives were to make Germany powerful again, and because he was psychotic? I don't think so.

[It should be noted that this was originally not my entry -- I rescued it after its author left the site. Had I actually written it, I would have done so in a far less adversative fashion.]