Gentlemanly capitalism, imperialism and social connections

In this account of gentlemanly capitalism, missionaries arrive first, followed by traders, and demands for protection then bring soldiers. Missionaries, traders and officers belong to connected sections of the ruling class. Ordinary soldiers need not share that class because officers decide where they go. Clarke considers the theory probably true while questioning how much it adds beyond conversation and friendship networks. A guest responds more dismissively to the theory. The disagreement concerns the explanatory value of a theory built around those social connections.