The word Tory has always carried a particular resonance in British life. It conjures ideas of loyalty to tradition, a mistrust of sudden change, and a belief that order and continuity matter more than trying something radically new. These notions took root in the fierce political debates of the 1600s and 1700s, when questions about the monarchy, religion, and authority shaped British history. Over time, this way of thinking became ingrained in the country’s conservative tradition and influenced how Britain perceived itself—and the rest of the world.
The Tory Atlas of the World is satirical world map that imagines how a distinctly old-school British conservative might have looked at foreign lands—confident, judgmental, and often unapologetically smug. Every country on the map is replaced by a nickname or jibe, making the whole thing strange, funny, and, at times, pretty uncomfortable. What once passed for everyday humor now seems more outdated, maybe even offensive. The map depicts an era in which these attitudes were considered normal.
For context, it helps to think back to figures like Edmund Burke, who warned against revolutions and believed societies should shift gradually, preserving their deepest roots. Later, Tory leaders carried that careful tone into Britain’s economic and imperial policies—defending farming, tariffs, and naval power. Over the years, the “Tory” label came to include a wide range of conservatives, from Church-influenced traditionalists to pragmatic politicians mainly interested in stability.
