burden

"What is the argument put forward in Britain, Germany, France, the United States? That we ( the North ) cannot assume the burdens ( that is economic burdns ) of the whole world. Well, why not? Merely a century ago, the same North was assuming the "White man's burden of a civilising mission" among the barbarians. Now the barbarians, the dangerous classes, are saying Thank you very much. Forget about civilising us; just let us have some human rights, like, say, the right to move about freely and take jobs where we can find them".

( Wallerstein, E, 1995, After Liberalism )